Texas-born Charley Crockett has had a prolific career since releasing his debut album ‘A Stolen Jewel’ in 2015. With a further 11 records under his belt – most recently 2022’s critically acclaimed ‘The Man From Waco’, which saw him nominated for four trophies at the 2023 Americana Music Awards – he’s become beloved by fans for his blend of country, blues and Americana as well as his live performances. Now he’s back with the follow-up, ‘$10 Cowboy’, released today.
The 12-track project opens with the title song, a bluesy, funky number which highlights the depth and richness in Crockett’s drawl as well as honky-tonk piano runs. There’s a soulfulness to his delivery as he tells the story of Billy McClane, the ‘last of his breed’, and I like the blend of wryness and a sense of contentment with carving out one’s own path in. The spoken word section at the end, in which he talks about working his way up, is a really nice touch and it’s one I can see playing really well in a smoky, intimate club setting.
One thing which really stood out to me was the heavy soul and gospel influence that runs throughout the album. The atmospheric ‘America’ is an early highlight in this regard, with its layers of horn and sparse guitar melody as Crockett sings about trying to get by over jazz riffs and gospel vocalisations. He hits some absolutely massive notes and there’s a timeless, haunting quality to the song that makes it feel like a lost cut from the 1930s yet still relevant today. Elsewhere, ‘Gettin’ Tired Again’ put me in mind of classic Stevie Wonder songs with its delicate, shimmering melody that keeps it from feeling too dark, whilst ‘Lead The Way’ has a sparse, sultry vibe that pairs 70s-esque riffs with a pulsing drum beat and a wailing outro. There’s an edge to Crockett’s voice as he sings about following your heart and being true to yourself, but also a warning that life on the road may not be all it’s cracked up to be, and he does a great job of treading that fine line between darkness and light.
That said, there’s still plenty for fans of Crockett’s countrier sound to enjoy too. ‘Hard Luck & Circumstances’ is a twangy, mellow tune with a knowing lyric that stays the right side of melancholy as Crockett’s narrator accepts his lot in life, whilst ‘Good At Losing’ has a lush quality from its layers of strings and great tongue-in-cheek storytelling (‘most folks who talk about me have never lived a life like mine’). Meanwhile, the punchy, shuffling ‘Spade’ rattles along at a clip whilst immersing you in a story straight out of a classic cowboy film and ‘Ain’t Done Losing Yet’ has a rollicking, bouncy feel that seems like it was made for barroom singalongs – I defy you not to sway along to this one!
For me many of the highlights come in the slower numbers. ‘Diamond In The Rough’ sees Crockett show his soft side over a slow, organ-led melody with a sweet, heartfelt lyric about a woman who’s had it tough, and is full of warmth and tenderness. I also really liked the Eagles-esque ‘Solitary Road’, with its sharp drum rolls and lonesome, cinematic feel as Crockett warns the listener to avoid life’s temptations in almost hollowed-out vocals, and the hazy, smooth ‘City Of Roses’ which really captures a vivid sense of place and is packed with details throughout its tongue-in-cheek tale. If a song can be described as sepia-tinted, then this is definitely it.
The album closes with ‘Midnight Cowboy’, which sees Crockett telling the story of the title character rolling along through the night and the people he encounters. For me it ties the whole project together with its gliding vocals and chugging rhythm, as well as hitting that perfect balance of being both weighty and lively at the same time. It’s a tricky thing to pull off, but Crockett does it effortlessly and should absolutely be commended for that.
Overall ‘$10 Cowboy’ is a quietly hopeful record that shows Crockett’s strengths in blending country and blues sounds as well as his skills as a storyteller and great vocal quality. He has the great ability to bring the characters in his songs to life and a quiet command of his delivery that feels absolutely arresting on first listen. It’s music for a weekend morning drinking your coffee and contemplating life, and one that I can sense is going to work really well in live shows, especially smaller spaces. With songs to win over new fans as well as old, it’s another excellent body of work from him and should further cement him as one of Americana’s brightest stars.
Track list: 1. $10 Cowboy 2. America 3. Hard Luck & Circumstances 4. Good At Losing 5. Gettin’ Tired Again 6. Spade 7. Diamond In The Rough 8. Ain’t Done Losing Yet 9. Solitary Road 10. City Of Roses 11. Lead The Way 12. Midnight Cowboy Record label: Son Of Davy/Thirty Tigers Release date: 26th April 2024
