If rock and roll is the bastard child of an illicit encounter between country and western and rhythm and blues then I’d characterize poprock as bearing a bit more of the genetic stamp of the former. So calling country time is totally in order around here!

On a brief pass over, Paul Cauthen looks and sounds pretty outlaw country. But check out the hooks on “Once You’re Gone” from his 2016 album, My Gospel, with it’s Nick Lowe-friendly country shuffle and heavenly background vocal ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’. His recent album, Have Mercy, is another winner, channeling the stentorian reserve of Johnny Cash vocally at times. At the other extreme, 12 year old Mason Ramsey manages to capture some of the vulnerability of Hank Williams senior on this covers of “Jambalaya” and “Lovesick Blues.” For traditionalists, the backing on his 2018 EP Famous is a time travel trip back to 1951 with it’s killer pedal steel and fiddle playing. Personally, I love his cover of William’s lesser known “I Saw the Light” best. His new EP is Twang and though it steers more toward a commercial country sound its title track is still pretty sweet. Rounding out this country time is another track from the immensely talented Cerny Brothers, this time from their 2013 self-titled release. “Out of Time” is a banjo-driven, melodic traditional-ish number that is a duet with Debbie Byrd, whose vocals are moving blast of a more 1950s female country sound.

The Cerny Brothers – Out of Time

Pull up to the e-rodeo by clicking on the links above to get back to the country with these artists!