Rife with character-heavy narratives and big-sky imagery, country
music has always been an ideal soundtrack for driving. We’re reminded
of that on Dale Watson’s second album of highway songs, following
1998’s The Truckin’ Sessions. With lots of fiddle and a clear
love of the road, Austin’s inveterate Watson elevates these 14 tunes
beyond their cheesy, one-note potential, making them feel hard-won and
authentic. “Hero” opens with rain and presents the ever-cautious
trucker as a tear-jerking martyr; it’s a stretch but the song plucks
the heartstrings with a strong, compact refrain. The likeminded “Let
This Trucker Go” is a message from a freshly departed soul to the woman
who survived him, whereas “Truckin’ Man” is all corner-of-the-mouth
growl, the goofy “Truckin’ Queen” tackles a cross-dressing driver and
“Texas Boogie” caps the collection with a snap. Even the mostly
instrumental “10-4” comes off better than on paper. Watson’s weighty
voice is clarion-clear, and his longtime band sharp and diverse
throughout. Nowhere near as gritty as some alt-country, yet free of the
arena-rock earmarks of the mainstream stuff, Volume Two won’t
convert anyone who doesn’t already like country, but it’s a pleasantly
bumpy ride for those of us who do. Doug Wallen
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2009.