Willie Watson is perhaps best-known as one of the founding members of Old Crow Medicine Show. With the band from their inception in 1998 through to 2011, Watson played fiddle, guitar, banjo and harmonica, as well as contributing to vocals. He decided to embark on a solo career in 2011 citing the direction the band was heading and becoming a parent among his reasons. Since departing from Old Crow Medicine Show, Watson has released two solo records – ‘Folk Singer Vol. 1' in 2014 and ‘Folk Singer Vol. 2' in 2017 – both consisting of covers. Seven years on from his last release, Watson is releasing his first solo album of (mostly) original material with the self-titled ‘Willie Watson'.
Recorded in Los Angeles with producers Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers) and Kenneth Pattengale (Milk Carton Kids), the 9-track record is a Country/Americana fusion that mines Watson’s life and career to deliver personal stories, while honouring his tendency to platform older songs that audiences may not be as familiar with. The album opens with ‘Slim and the Devil', an adaptation of Sterling A. Brown’s poem ‘Slim Greer in Hell'. Watson imbues the song with feeling and gravitas, bringing his ability to retell these old stories for new audiences to the fore.
Fans will likely come to this record to see what Watson can do as an artist in his own right, away from the traditional songs he’s leaned so heavily on since departing Old Crow Medicine Show. Much of ‘Willie Watson' is downbeat, pairing Watson’s world-weary voice with simple arrangements. He puts the spotlight on the storytelling rather than trying to wow with bells and whistles. This is a record crafted in the spirit of the true troubadours, shunning the sheen of modern Nashville and diving deep for authenticity.
‘Real Love', the album’s first truly original moment, is a slow lilting ballad that allows Watson’s voice to emote in a way that we’ve not really heard before. The lush instrumentation lends a classic sensibility to a song that feels like it belongs to another time, while still working in the modern world. The recently released ‘Already Gone' continues that trend, with Watson singing over a steady beat and a gentle acoustic guitar riff. Lyrically the song is an exploration of trying to look at yourself in the mirror and understand the person you are.
‘Sad Song' is an honest confessional, while traditional songs ‘Harris and the Mare' and ‘Mole in the Ground' continue to bridge the gap between Watson’s roots and his own path as an artist. ‘One to Fall', which arrives in the middle of the record, is one of the highlights. Stirring instrumentation provides the backdrop for Watson to deliver one of his most soulful vocals on the record. He pushes himself a little more vocally here and his delivery is effectively emotive. ‘Play It One More Time' opens with an elongated instrumental before Watson sings of spending a lifetime living the moment, something I’m sure many of us wish we could do, before conceding that the time passes by regardless of our wishes.
The album ends with ‘Reap ‘Em in the Valley’, an eight-and-a-half-minute track that sees Watson delivering a spoken-word confessional over acoustic guitar. It’s a little Johnny Cash in places and a sharp departure from the rest of the record. Fans will learn more about Watson but whether or not the track will warrant repeat listens is debatable.
‘Willie Watson' is a chance for the singer-songwriter to let his true artistry shine through. He stays true to his roots and his influences, while delivering an album that will appeal to Americana fans. There’s much to enjoy and dig into here, even if the record as a whole isn’t quite perfect. Watson puts his heart and soul into these songs, and for that he should be commended. It’s good to finally hear original material from a musician that has long showcased his talent as part of other projects.
Track list: 1. Slim and the Devil 2. Real Love 3. Already Gone 4. Sad Song 5. One to Fall 6. Harris and the Mare 7. Mole in the Ground 8. Play It One More Time 9. Reap ‘Em in the Valley Record label: Little Operation Records / Thirty Tigers Release date: 13th September 2024 Buy ‘Willie Watson’ now
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