Tough Country
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
The Texas Americana supergroup The Panhandlers return with a sophomore album, where Josh Abbott, John Baumann, William Clark Green and Flatland Cavalry’s Cleto Cordero pen 14 tunes that run the gamut of emotions that pay tribute to the West Texas music scene that inspired them.
“Flatland” opens the listen with frisky drumming and warm guitar alongside the smooth and expressive singing of the calm roots rock, and “Where Cotton Is King” follows with cozy banjo and vivid storytelling comprising the powerful country rock ideas.
Further on, “Moonlight In Marfa” recruits a soothing, intimate spirit of agile melodies, while “Valentine, For Valentines” finds itself in lush territory, where a poetic duet unfolds with a very harmonic and radiant landscape.
Close to the end, “Last Hangover”, the pensive album highlight, recruits plenty of rural beauty for the gritty yet pretty delivery, and “I Got Your Back Dog” exits with a bare and dusty presence of aching pedal steel, eloquent singing and timeless song craft.
An album that blends pedal steel, fiddle, banjo, dobro, guitar and percussion into very captivating storytelling, Tough Country will appeal to anyone with an ear for Americana, roots, country or bluegrass sounds.
Travels well with: 49 Winchester- III: The Shootouts- Bullseye