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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Dale Watson is the Savior of Country Music", April 7, 2006
I put my title in quotes because that's what Hank III has called Dale Watson. He isn't far wrong. Dale is one-hundred-percent the real deal, a country music singer the way country music is supposed to sound, without a single drop of Nashville's pop machine touching his pure honky-tonking sound. As a plus, Dale has a powerhouse baritone that doesn't need any fiddling to put it on key (seeing him live is a major treat). "Whiskey or God" may have been culled from older songs Dale's written and other popular cuts from his live shows, but it fits together nicely as a complete album, including several "tear-in-your-beer" songs, a few chuckles, and a couple of just plain fun songs.
Dale Watson is not only a genuine country music singer, he's a very genuine fellow. You'll never meet a nicer guy. Just try any of his discs and if you like country music, you'll like Dale. "Whiskey or God" isn't quite as structured an album as last year's amazing "Dreamland," but it's still Dale Watson, and that makes it better than most. Enjoy.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Real country music with some Texas spice as hot as tabasco, March 25, 2006
Playing Time - 39:17 -- Honky tonker Dale Watson's "Whiskey or God" is the same album formerly released as "Heeah!" but has new cover art with photos by Rob Buck. Watson has put out annual releases for about a decade, and mainstream success has eluded him. "Whiskey or God" has the Texas troubadour telling his stories exquisitely with pure heart and soul. His passionate baritone vocals are delivered with abundant personality, and this makes his songs immediately appealing. Of course, there are a few hooks too in his tightly-crafted and ardent country music.
Top notch instrumental support is provided by Herb Bolofsky (drums), Gene Kurtz (bass), Don Don Pawlak (pedal steel), Don Raby (fiddle), Jon Blondell (trombone), and Floyd Domino (piano). They're an amazing band that encompasses everything that is country. OK, maybe the trombone isn't exactly country, but it adds some nice flavorings. I wonder how many of these guys are part of Dale's band, The Lone Stars, or whether they are just ringers brought in for the sessions. If one thing is missing on "Whiskey or God," it's some stronger background vocals although Dale does lay in a few tenors to his lead vocals here and there.
The compelling and exciting set has a number of winners. "Sit and Drink and Cry," "Darlin' Look At Me Now," "No Help Wanted," and "I Don't Feel Too Lucky Today" are examples of fine songcrafting. They hold their own as distinctive country meat-and-potatoes fare, and some new catchy outlooks are presented in "Truckin' Queen" and "38..21..34." If these songs don't get you grinning, nothing will. Hey Dale, look out for the feminists who might chastise you for the latter.
Speaking of hooks, Cajun fiddle introduces the spirited and danceable "I Ain't Been Right, Since I've Been Left." This album does get the good times rolling. With "My Heart is Yours," Watson proves he can also croon a beautiful love ballad. "Tequilla and Teardrops" would have been enhanced with a more raucous and infectious Tex-Mex mariachi kind of feel. "Whiskey or God" suffers slightly as a result of over-arranged brass lines and the metronomic thumping of snare drum. "I Wish I Was Crazy Again" recalls a dark moment in Watson's life when his fiancée lost her life in a auto accident on 9/15/00. Overcoming depression, the voices of demons, and a suicide attempt, Watson became the subject of Hollywood director Zalman King's documentary film called "Crazy Again" that will premiere at Austin's South by Southwest Festival in March, 2006. Let's hope that Watson isn't outta sorts as badly as he sings about in "Outta Luck." A nod to the western swing style of Bob Wills is given in "Heeah!!," and Jon Blondell's trombone gives it an almost big band essence.
There's a bunch going on in Dale Watson's life. The word is that Dale is moving north to Portland to be near his two kids. There's also a book about his life in the works, and a live DVD filmed in Holland is forthcoming. Did I mention that Dale has a large following in Europe? In the meantime, Watson refers to most of the music coming out of Nashville as "mechanical pop music." It's gratifying to know that guys like him are still racking up miles on the road to introduce audiences from 100 to 5,000 to real country music, with some Texas spice as hot as tabasco. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Country Like it Should Be...Honky Tonk Heaven!, April 4, 2006
Dale makes great old style country music. He is hard core and does not compromise to make it sound like today's watered down country-pop. If you like songs that could easily fit in with any Merle Haggard classic, then Dale is your man.
While the songs sound like "real" country to me, they also are not dated, dull or uninspired. These songs have a true sense of urgency, quality and are just as fresh sounding today as they would be circa 1968.
Give Dale a try and you will be looking at buying all his CD's (I recommend, "I Hate These Songs" CD as a follow up to this one).
You may even find yourself (like me) making several trips to Austin, Texas to see Dale live at the "Broken Spoke". A true country music dance hall classic. Dale often plays there. You dance, you drink, you sing, you have a great time for five or six hours!
Highly Recommended...
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