CD Review: Aaron Watson’s San Angelo

by Blair Lovern

What the hell is Mr. Watson doing not being listened to by the rest of the country-fried world?

Here's another TexasGigs mini review you can fit in your pocket: Aaron Watson's newest CD, San Angelo.

This is Watson's fifth release and there is one thing I have to ask: What the hell is he doing not being listened to by the rest of the country-fried world? There is no good reason people outside of Texas couldn't or shouldn't appreciate this music. But Nash-where? is pushing Bon Jovi these days, so what do I know?

I cannot get these songs out of my head. They are musically, lyrically, vocally the best songs Mr. Watson has produced (one reason is because San Angelo was produced by Ray Benson.) But I don't want to overplay the credit. In the past, Aaron Watson has brought on some of the best musicians in the business to help record. This time around Watson and his terrific Orphans of the Brazos band do the heavy lifting.

The songs of San Angelo are well-written (some are by Watson, some are covers), and they're fun to sing to even if you can't. If you really stink at singing, trying humming. The melodies are very hum-friendly. If you stink at humming, do us a favor and appreciate the CD quietly.

I have to be like the powerful and important American Idol judge Randy Jackson and keep it real by saying I don’t listen to the last song on the CD, “Nobody’s Crying But The Baby.” Sorry, it doesn't do anything for me. Maybe some day I'll listen carefully, but I don’t see that day coming any time soon.

But the other 12? Yeah, they’re worth listening to over and over. If I had to pick, the song that stands out most to me is Willie Nelson’s “I’m a Memory.” I like this song not just because Willie Nelson is one of the best songwriters ever, but also because it’s from another era of country music. It’s rare to hear songs like this any more, songs that aren’t stuck in a rut. Watson and the band do a mighty fine version. I’m not saying it’s a Beethoven symphony, I’m just saying this is somewhere between Beethoven and a rut, feel free to chose the exact spot.

“There’s no way I would have written that in a 100 years,” Watson said about “I’m A Memory”. “When I write a song, a lot of times it’s easy to not get out of your comfort zone. This time I really challenged myself with key changes and notes that I normally wouldn’t try. I also think it’s the best vocals I’ve recorded.”

I have to agree with him there. Watson pushes himself on this entire record, and that’s one reason I think he'll be around for a long time. He’s a pro, he's talented, he’s a good man, he’s always thinking about making a better song and he loves what he does. To me, you can’t come up with a better formula for success.