Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Country
Great, simple (a compliment) arrangements of some ol' cowboy songs.
This dude says “me” more than Beaker.
Not my genre but this is the real deal.
So pure and classic. This is what all those alt-country dudes are aiming for
Not a bad album, nice and short. Standard old fashioned country.
Predictable and basic country music for idiots
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Langweilt mich gottlos.
This is actually pretty great for what it is, it's just not something I get much into.
70s country. Outlaw country. Rock and roll elements. Classic, twangy honky tonk, beer in hand at a tiny, grubby bar.
Ol’ Jaylon Wennings is on the case, ready to surely deliver a mediocre romp featuring the phrase “Honky Tonk” several times. There are some all time stinker words and phrases in our language but Honky Tonk glows red with the hatred of a thousand demonic entities. It only takes two words to keep me out of a place. “Keep Out” for example. “High Voltage” comes to mind. “Disemboweling Fog.” Yikes! Honky Tonk has that same effect. Yet here I enter, as if I am to have my intestines removed by a mysterious malevolent fog, I stare into the cold abyss. Tune that steel guitar and cast me into the red light emanating from it. Honky Tonk Heroes - The prophecy is fulfilled. Clean 70’s country is pretty boring. Colour me uhh pretty bored. Old Five and Dimers (Like Me) - So you’re a Honky Tonk hero, you’re an Old five and dimer. Make up your mind, pal. I swore he said fast fucks in this heartfelt ballad. I was flabbergasted. Alas, he just said “fast bucks.” There is something so deeply depressing about this. Not even in a good way. Just music to numbly stare at the wallpaper to. Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me - Whoa. A mysterious lil nomad man!? I can’t stress enough how much we need songs about freaks. Unless this is just about Willie Nelson. Low Down Freedom - I’m not sure I like the frog voice. I think I first heard Waylon Jennings in Grand Theft Auto 5. While that is incredibly embarrassing, I really did think he was a parody artist for the game. This warble isn’t doing it. I LOVE a good warble. A holler is my heaven. This particular one, is really bad. Omaha - We’re picking up the pace here. Probably the best thing going so far. You Ask Me To - Alright. This isn’t earth shaming but it’s growing on me a little bit. Much like a fungus. Ride Me Down Easy - Some gospel tones here in amongst the frog croaking. This continues down the path I look for in country. Hobo mentioned Ain’t No God in Mexico - Uhhhh. In order to describe this song title I’d usually jokingly say “It was the 70’s!” But this shit would make an appearance in a real political debate these days. Black Rose - I don’t know. This is fine? We Had it All - I wish I could type in Waylon Jennings frog voice. Him saying he used to touch your hair in his quivering frog vibrato is probably the funniest thing I’ve heard in a week or so. Slow Rollin’ Low - The only track bearing the tag “Remastered” fills me with suspicion that this isn’t part of the record. Seeing as it’s really not going to swing me either way, I suppose it really doesn’t matter. Although it does extend my time with Waylon. Bittersweet record today. There were moments I enjoyed but ugh this is just so generic. It’s paint by numbers radio country. At least in my head. Hey, this guy might have been the blueprint for some people, but this has no spark, no edge and just a whole bunch of mediocre ideas. It’s fine. It wasn’t a hard listen, but it didn’t spark anything within me, except maybe the urge to giggle at the frog man. An uneventful Tuesday. Add another corpse to the pile. 2-2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Omaha, Ride Me Down Easy
This is a hell of an album, and my first by Mr. Jennings. Short, sweet, outlaw as hell, somehow kind of modern? Great melodic hooks, great storytelling. Fantastic stuff and I’m glad I finally listened to it.
In 1973 I was working as a cook in a restaurant attached to an arcade. In those days (maybe still!) there were pinball machines you could play for money. Every night after work, I would play there and every night a man would pull up in a white Cadillac, get $100 in quarters and play until it was gone. I usually didn't last that long. Everyone said he was Waylon Jennings. I don't know - we never introduced ourselves. Maybe he was working on this album - speaking of which, this a fun listen except for the Johnny Cash sounding bits.
Didn’t grab my attention, put me to sleep. And worst of all his vocal performance and just the sound of his voice in general is so boring and underwhelming. Albums like this make me think I hate country until I hear stuff that’s actually good.
This turned out to be a great, short album of outlaw country music from an artist I’d never listened to. Like a lot of this genre it’s incredibly evocative of a time and lifestyle that is now gone. Interestingly, it was the slower numbers that really stuck with me like Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Ride Me Down Easy. Plus Waylon’s deep, weary voice is pretty perfect for these songs.
yup thats honky tonk
Midddd. Just not my taste. Droned on and on
I think if you enjoy Honky Tonk this probably is the gold standard. For me it’s like nails on a chalkboard.
Is my American bias showing when I say there haven’t been an overwhelming amount of country albums on this list so far? This one was really good. Waylon Jennings can SING. He can BELT. Then “Old Five And Dimers” takes things back to a sound that was popular a couple decades before the 70’s and it’s SO CATCHY. “Omaha” is a catchy, more upbeat anthem that I would love to hear in a concert with tons of people shouting the lyrics back. Lastly, I love the strings in the ending of “We Had It All”. Very touching. Really good record from front to back anyone that lets their general distaste for country come between themselves and this album needs their biases checked. 4/5
Mesmo antes de iniciar o projeto, sempre demonstrei um grande apreço por Country clássico, apesar de ter tido uma exposição limitada ao gênero. Country moderno, assim como o equivalente brasileiro, não me atrai tanto. Mas o clássico possui um charme inegável em sua simplicidade e pura musicalidade. A produção do disco marca sua data de criação claramente, não há aqui firulas, enfeites desnecessários, tudo é bem direto ao ponto. Um violão, a ocasional gaita, uma voz poderosa e letras riquíssimas em folclore, isso é country no sentido literal, com menção honrosa aos momentos do disco onde eles decidem brincar com Rock junto na feijoada (ou seria um Casserole?) e é tudo muito agradável de se ouvir. É o tipo de disco que você solta a agulha, deita para trás, tira o sapato, e deixa se levar. Sua duração é precisamente monitorada para evitar a fadiga, e o resultado é um álbum viciante, onde você termina de ouvi-lo e já quer rodá-lo novamente. Apesar de todas as graças que estou dando a ele, ainda não foi meu álbum favorito de country que gerei até então da lista. A concorrência é acirrada, com nomes magnânimos como Johnny Cash, George Jones e Marty Robbins. Pelo visto, meu apreço por Country clássico (especialmente do subgênero “fora-da-lei”) vai apenas crescer cada vez mais até o final dessa trilha de 1001 álbuns. Que assim seja! Lindo álbum, viciante e relaxante simultaneamente. Voz foda e letras míticas. Clássico. 4/5
Just alright. 2.5/5
Recognizing that he’s an important artist for C&W but this album doesn’t do anything for me.
Other than the Dukes of Hazzard theme, I don't think I could name a single song by Waylon Jennings (well scratch that, I know of "Luckenbach," but I don't think I've ever actually listened to it. As a Texan, don't tell anyone I said that). I've enjoyed a fair amount of the country albums on this list, and the words Honky Tonk appearing in the title up the chances of my enjoyment even more. Time for a little outlaw country! As much as I wanted to enjoy this album, I found it pretty underwhelming. I thought Waylon’s singing was good, and the guitar playing was nice, but I was really bored by this album. When it comes to country music, I really love hearing raw emotions, like Emmylou Harris, or something lighthearted and silly, like Buck Owens. Honky Tonk Heroes was just kind of bland to me, because it didn’t make me feel anything. There weren’t any particular songs that stood out to me, and there wasn’t anything particularly unique about this musically or lyrically. I was really hoping that I would enjoy this album, but this was a swing and a miss.
Now this is some good country music.
If all country were like this I'd be a huge fan.
This is a damn good album. The title track and Omaha aren’t just good country songs, they’re good songs in general. Also it’s an album that doesn’t out stay its welcome. Good stuff.
Classic. Not the best era of Waylon, which is still yet to come, but a great album for “outlaw country” back when country was country! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Is this project turning me into a country fan? What is happening? This was genuinely just a fun album. It was a good length, and the songs were catchy but not cloying. I enjoyed listening to it.
Real classic country album with out frills, just stories. Fine.
Sure sounds like an American country album. And I'm not a country fan AT ALL. But at least it's short, and the bass guitar sounds nice.
This was a joy and truly fantastic
Ik heb niets met country, maar dit vond ik - zeker na een tweede keer luisteren en wat meer focus op de tekst - een aangename verrassing. De stijl is misschien wat gedateerd, niet zo tijdloos als andere albums in deze lijst, maar als tijdsdocument zeker meer dan de moeite.
Once again expected a country album to be a disaster but this was pleasant and didn’t have the “country twang” or make me wanna gouge my eyes out.
Don't have much to say. Waylon is great but this one is just okay.
Honky Tonk Heroes - 5/5 Old Five and Dimers (Like Me) - 4/5 Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me - 3/5 Low Down Freedom - 3/5 Omaha - 4/5 You Ask Me To - 5/5 Ride Me Down Easy - 3/5 Ain't No God in Mexico - 5/5 Black Rose - 5/5 We Had It All - 3/5 Average score: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ with a album title like "Honky Tonk Heroes," i was certain i'd hate this. however, this wasn't too bad at all. sometimes the country genre has some gems
Just good old fashioned country music. Instrumentally impressive, lyrically captivating, they don’t make much like this anymore.
An influential album in the sub-genre of outlaw country, apparently. I'm not overly interested by this, it sounds like pretty standard yee-haw stuff to me
Soulful country music that's way better than most. I like this album a lot.
3.25 Solid Country
I like this kind of country. 4/5
Awesome
**Honky Tonk Heroes (1973)** is the album where Waylon Jennings fully became “Waylon.” Recorded in Nashville but cut *against* Nashville, it is the first outright manifesto of the Outlaw-country movement: ten Billy Joe Shaver songs (plus one Jennings/Shaver co-write) played by Waylon’s road band, produced by Waylon himself, and mixed loud enough that the steel guitar sometimes fights the lead vocal for space. Below is a track-by-track look at the words, music, sonics and myth-making, followed by a concise balance-sheet of what still shines – and what has aged less gracefully. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. **Lyrics – The Shaver Cosmos** -------------------------------------------------------------------- Billy Joe Shaver writes in bar-room parables: half Ernest Hemingway, half back-pew preacher. Every chorus lands on a moral that feels both personal and southwestern-folk universal. - **“Honky Tonk Heroes”** – The manifesto: drifters, “old five-and-dimers,” neon crosses, “drizzling rain.” Shaver’s trick is to make the loser’s code sound like a badge of honour: *“low-down leaving sun”* rhymes with *“on the run”* – simple, unforgettable. - **“Old Five and Dimers (Like Me)”** – A self-portrait of the songwriter as ageing hustler who still believes in *“turning the world all which-a-way”* for love. - **“Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me”** – A hobo trio (Willie Nelson implied) that treats the road as sacrament. - **“Black Rose”** – Possibly the record’s literary peak: Freudian back-porch noir where the temptress is literally a flower that *“grows in the darkness.”* - **“Ain’t No God in Mexico”** – Border existentialism; the first time a major country LP openly questions providence south of the Rio Grande. - **“We Had It All”** – The only outside song (Troy Seals/Donnie Fritts) and the lone ballad; serves as weary benediction. **Pros** – Cohesion; the whole album is a song-cycle about restlessness. **Cons** – Shaver’s range of images is narrow; if you don’t buy into the cowboy-Christ motif, the middle cuts can feel repetitive. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. **Music – Road-band Grit Meets Nashville Craft** -------------------------------------------------------------------- Waylon abandoned the A-Team session pros and brought his touring group: drummer Richie Albright, bassist Duke Goff, steel-man Ralph Mooney, plus lead-guitarist Gordon Payne. The change is immediate: - **Groove-first rhythm section** – Albright pushes the kick slightly ahead of the beat, giving the record its trademark chug that rock critics compared to Creedence. - **Telecaster twang** – Waylon’s finger-style electric drives every track; you can hear the flat-wound strings snap against the frets. - **Steel & harmonica** – Mooney’s pedal steel is mixed left and drips with tube-saturation; harmonica answers the vocal call on *“Low Down Freedom”* like a second narrator. - **Dynamics** – Songs rarely top three minutes, yet each has a mini-arrangement arc: two verses, hot guitar fill, half-time tag. **Pros** – Raw, lived-in feel; no strings or choral overdubs (except on the closing track). **Cons** – Because the same six players cut everything in two days, sonic variety is limited; keys and tempos blur if you listen end-to-end on headphones. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. **Production – Outlaw Sonics** -------------------------------------------------------------------- Waylon co-produced with engineer Tompall Glaser in Glaser’s “Hillbilly Central” studio – a rented Victorian house on 19th Ave. Technically the record is crude by Nashville standards: microphones peeking into vocal booths made of mattresses, live vocals, very little overdubbing. That imperfection became the aesthetic: - **Close-miked baritone** – Waylon’s voice is dry, slightly compressed; you hear inhalations that radio-friendly mixes normally erase. - **Bleed & ambience** – Drum mics pick up guitar amps; the result is the smoky-room atmosphere reviewers call *“a 27-minute snapshot of a 2 a.m. beer joint.”* - **No fade-outs** – Every song ends in a hard stop or a ring-off chord, reinforcing the *“we played it, we left it”* attitude. **Pros** – Organic, magnetic-tape warmth; blueprint for later alt-country lo-fi. **Cons** – High-frequency roll-off makes cymbals splashy; some vinyl pressings distort when the bass and kick hit together. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. **Themes – Myth vs. Reality** -------------------------------------------------------------------- The album’s great achievement is turning self-mythology into populist art. Shaver’s drifter archetype let Waylon recast himself as an anti-hero who still believes in loyalty, Jesus, and the open road – all while admitting he *“done it on my own”* after the devil got him started. In 1973 that stance felt revolutionary against the Countrypolitan polish of Chet Atkins’ Nashville. Today the same songs read as working-class poetry: small-town men negotiating freedom, guilt, and geography. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. **Influence & Legacy** -------------------------------------------------------------------- - **Commercial** – Peaked at #14 on Billboard Country; single *“You Ask Me To”* hit #8, proving Nashville radio could not ignore music it refused to play ball with. - **Cultural** – Along with *“Ladies Love Outlaws”* (1972) and Willie’s *“Red Headed Stranger”* (1975), this LP christened the Outlaw brand, leading to the 1976 compilation *Wanted! The Outlaws*, country’s first million-selling album. - **Stylistic** – Showed you could cut hit country records with your own band on your own terms; inspired everyone from Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam to modern acts like Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. - **Songwriting** – Elevated Billy Joe Shaver from regional Texas legend to Nashville Hall-of-Fame writer; *“Old Five and Dimers”* has been covered by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and John Anderson. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. **Pros & Cons at a Glance** -------------------------------------------------------------------- **Pros** ✅ Unified song-cycle – arguably the most cohesive country album of the 70s. ✅ Gritty, live-band sound that pre-dates alt-country by two decades. ✅ Waylon’s voice at its peak – honey-over-gravel timbre, effortless phrasing. ✅ Lyrics that balance machismo with vulnerability; no filler tracks. ✅ Historical significance: ground-zero for the Outlaw movement. **Cons** ❌ Short running time (27:10) – ends before the mood can deepen further. ❌ Homogeneous keys & grooves – casual listeners may hear “the same song” twice. ❌ Sparse sonic polish – if you crave glossy Nashville production, this feels lo-fi. ❌ Limited female perspective – ten songs, all male gazes and cowboy codes. ❌ Shaver’s idiosyncratic grammar (*“which-a-way”*, *“done it on my own”*) can scan as hokey to non-country ears. -------------------------------------------------------------------- **Verdict** *Honky Tonk Heroes* is not just a classic country album; it is a manifesto of creative autonomy captured on magnetic tape. Its flaws – brevity, sonic rawness, thematic repetition – are inseparable from its power. Nearly everything modern Americana labels as “authentic” can be traced back to this 27-minute shrug in the face of Music-Row etiquette. Put it on a decent turntable, pour something amber, and you still feel the door of Hillbilly Central swing shut on Nashville’s old guard – a moment that keeps echoing through the honky-tonks of 2025.
Sweet
Sit by the fire and come listen to Waylon. Whether you’re a city dweller or grew up on a farm, Waylon will draw you in to his world with tunes anyone can relate to on some level. The sounds are great and it’s short and sweet. Just some good easy listening country. Old Five and Dimers (Like Me) and Ain’t No God In Mexico were highlights.
Ok album, a few nice songs but it does not really stand out 3.4 stars
Always kinda liked Nashville Sound more than any of the outlaws, and Waylon's not giving me any real standouts here, unfortunately. Pleasant, I wouldn't turn off the country station if this came on, but not much more than that.
This was ok. For country music. I liked the first song. The rest not so much.
I don’t love this kind of country music, but this feels like it’s about as good as it gets.
Don't know why I like this stuff but I do. Not the finest but I'd have no issue listening again
Listening to this nowadays - yes, it does sound alright and it's pretty chill to just have playing in the background, but it is definitely quite an outdated album. Overall, not too bad but I just keep thinking about the most intense stuff that came out a couple of years after this.
мне очень понравилось, приятно
That was fine. Nothing amazing, some good, soulful notes in it.
I don’t have any honky tonk heroes but I guess if I did, Waylon Jennings could be one.
country , 1973 -> 2
Too country to be enjoyable
Great. He’s nowhere near my top guy from his general peer group, but I still had a four star time listening to this.
A good old school country album. I like this style but was not overly drawn to any songs on here. Still not a bad listen at all.
Decent album, terrible name
Ça reste du country mais c'était plaisant! Bon en mettre en musique de fond. 3/5
Thought this would be awful but it’s a million times better than the fucking Louvin Brothers.
Just real good, soulful, honest country music. When it's good, it's great.
You know what, it exceeded my expectations more than any album yet, it was short, and it was genuinely enjoyable, so I’m going to give this a 4.
It's actually OK
Pleasant enough. Not really my style but has a time and a place
Don't mind it
I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this one, although the genre is not my favorite. My favorite Waylon Jennings records would be those he made during his time with Buddy Holly as a member of the Crickets. I like the story of an established country music artist, chafing under the creative restrictions placed upon him by his label, getting creative control and breaking out to greater success while creating Outlaw music, a new subgenre of country.
Short album. Enjoyed it for what it is.
Generally speaking, I dislike country music. I tried very hard to go into this album with an open mind, and I know Waylon Jennings is a legend. Try as I might, however, this just doesn't work for me. The story telling was unconvincing, in part because the lyrics seem simple and obvious, and each song felt like just the same story told just a little bit differently. It feels like a lot of cosplaying about some imagined past (or present) reality. And while the music is good, it's not notable in any way...not something a long list of good musicians could produce. A harsh review that undoubtedly speaks to my general dislike of the genre. If one likes the genre, I can see liking this album a lot for sure. Even then, I'm not convinced this is in the top 1001 one needs to here. As ever, glad I gave something a try I never would have listened to on my own.
#733. Why is it that old country music seems to be the only category in this book that isn't populated by assorted trash seemingly picked at random? 4/5: pretty good.
This is what Country music should sound like. I know that genres have to change and grow as time passes, but a majority of what we’ve got today simply isn’t Country. My only complaint is that it was too short.
Very earnest, which is probably not that unusual for a country album. There are a few good songs here and there, with Honky Tonk Heroes being an absolute banger.
3.5 stars. Pretty good early outlaw country record. Too much splitting instruments out to each stereo channel individually is a little distracting at times. Re-listened to a bit of it with mono audio and wished it would've been mixed closer to that. Standouts is the title track, which is a genuinely great song and musically a step above standard country. "We Had It All" ballad a nice example of Jennings's pretty good singing voice.
Some great old school country. I love it. I will be playing some Waylon more often.
Generic country. Better than most country, I didn't mind having it on in the background, but i have no interest in hearing it again.
Great voice, hate the accompaniments.
6/10
8.5/10
This would be an album I'd listen to if I was driving through the midwest on a roadtrip, but otherwise it's not my vibe lol.
Eh I like the genre but this isn’t memorable to me
3.5/5 Aint No God in Mexico is a wild name for a song
I really enjoyed listening this on a quiet drive to work while the sun came up. it makes me miss living in Appalachia. and makes me want to visit out west...
Damn near perfect country record. Deep, mellow, unhurried, bittersweet. One is deeply appreciative for the turns Waylon took and even if one's cynical about Outlaw Country (marketing concept as much as anything), there's no arguing with the quality of the outputs.
Sure. This was solid. Classic country.
I could listen to this stuff all day long
A little too much country for my taste but not bad. 2.5
This was really great, perfect for a sad Friday
A short outlaw country from the mid 1970s, the singing is nice and the closing song is quite different from the rest. I don't know much about country, and I don't see myself coming back to this album but this was an OK listen.
It's fine but seemed like every time a song was starting to really cook it would just end at 2 and a half minutes
Loved it
A good listen 3 or 4
Waylon is definitely on the Mt. Rushmore of Country Music. Great album!
Se ha quedado anticuado, pero fue un buen disco de country.
3/10 Country music is not a genre that I typically spend much time with and, as a consequence, I feel like the bar I set for it is much higher than other types of music. When I hear really top-tier country, I can engage with it, but the more middle of the road stuff often just doesn’t grab me at all. It’s typically a very formulaic genre with a very consistent sound between different artists and, if you like that sound, there’s a lot to enjoy, but it’s rarely for me. For the most part, I found this to be ok. The more energetic tracks did get me tapping my feet, and the songs were so short that they rarely outstayed their welcome, but it all just felt like a wash of country, none of which really stuck with me for long after the end of each track. There are also a couple of really odd aspects to this album. Firstly, the bass is way too loud, it almost overwhelms the lead vocal, which is super weird, especially as, from a compositional point of view, it’s the most basic element of the whole thing, largely just plodding away. When it’s given that much prominence, it doesn’t really benefit the songs. The other thing is that, for a good few of the tracks, the engineer seemed to just give up part way through and drop the faders. The fade outs were inexplicable, as sometimes there would be a change in the song, a solo, or Waylon would still actually be singing, and the producer would give up and end the song. Which was super weird. Overall, while this isn’t something I’ll be going back to, I also didn’t find it particularly terrible or offensive. But I’m, also glad it was only 27 minutes long. Honky Tonk Heroes - I was not convinced at all by the intro to this track, but once it kicks in, it’s decent. There’s not a great deal to it, composition-wise, but it’s pretty good fun and has a decent swing to it and a bit of attitude. Weirdly, they throw a slightly interesting rhythmic change in at the end that sounds like it’s going somewhere, but fade it out. Old Five and Dimers (Like Me) - This is so slow and plodding, and this type of croony vocal just doesn’t really do it for me. This song just sort of exists and then stops existing without much more to remark on. Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me - Similarly to the previous track, this just sort of plods along. It’s got a bit more to it when the fiddle comes in, but it aside from that it just doesn’t do enough to grab me. And then it fades out while he’s still singing! So weird. Low Down Freedom - This has got a bit more pace and dynamic to it. There’s a bit more range to some of the instrumentation too, particularly some of the less front of stage parts. I’m getting a bit more out of the range of the lead vocal too. It still feels quite ‘country by numbers’ to me, but it’s fairly enjoyable. And again it fades out while he’s still singing! Omaha - The pace is still up. There’s not a great deal to it compositionally, but it’s got some backing vocals to add a bit of extra variety to things, which works quite well. It’s not bad, but it’s also not vastly interesting. At two and a half minutes, I guess it doesn’t need to be though. You Ask Me To - A return to the more croony vocal delivery that rubs me up the wrong way. The solo bits are quite nice, but overall, the dominating and uninteresting bass line and overly hard strummed rhythm guitar aren’t helping me to enjoy this. The best bit of the track gets faded away. Ride Me Down Easy - This just plods along, with very limited musical content. It’s maybe got a bit more going for it tonally than some of the other slow songs, but it’s still not really gripping me. But it does have a proper ending. Ain’t No God In Mexico - A bit of pace again. As with previous tracks, thinhgs get moving a bit more when the players get to have some solos, but it’s not the most engaging track and it’s so short it almost doesn’t get going before it’s done. Black Rose - Stick your thumbs in your belt loops and chew on a stalk of wheat, this here’s some country music. It’s got a nice lilt to it. It’s so unapologetically country, particularly with the vocal harmonies, but it does it pretty well and had me tapping my toes. We Had It All - More croony stuff. A very thin composition and it feels quite stylistically different from the rest of the album. Too much reverb and the bass seems even louder than the rest of the album. What a bad way to end the album.
Pretty good
This is the good kind of country.
Solid
Well won't you look at that, I got two country albums from the 1970s which both begin with Honky Tonk. First with Honky Tonk Masquerade and here with Honky Tonk Heroes. And my opinions with this one is the fact that it is just fine. Like the album i did just prior, its everything that you would expect from this genre, except less interesting as every sound here isn't really all that original. The songs here are okay and have some pretty decent lyrics as well as a pleasant feel to all the songs but they don't really stand out all that much from each other and feel too much like they are cut from the same cloth. This album was thankfully very short at just 27 minutes which is why it made it to a very soft 3 stars. Best Song: Ain't No God In Mexico Worst Song: Black Rose
I listened twice and cane away blank. Nice country, blues rock, ambient jazz? I couldnt tell you
Beautiful melancholy fun wistful, love
Vibe guet, chillig, relaxed zum Zmittag. Het guet passt... Lyrics nööö :)
decent enough country album. i'm not averse to country music at all, but this one felt a little lacking in both the song department and also for a first experience of waylon jennings, i kind of wanted more from his vocal performance. on the more upbeat tracks, it works well, but on the country ballads, i find his voice to be a little weak. not a bad album, but ultimately felt a little underwhelming.
Good ol' classic country. About what you'd expect. I don't love or hate country, so average score from me.
Not a country fan though I know there is some incredible country music but he’s a country legend so I gave it listen. Update, still not a country fan, and this wasn’t one of those albums for me. The singing isn’t even good??
An absolute fucking classic. Billy Joe Shaver was a poet and cowboy mystic. His songs are what make this an all-timer.
4 stars
Pure bad assery.
LOVE. Picked up some new ones for the rotation (Black Rose and Ride Me Down Easy). Honestly, this list is sorely lacking on country albums, imho.
Of all the country albums to pick from…
447/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
Alright, first country record. I know and love the title track, but never listened to the album by itself. So had a few listens and sadly only title track really stands out, however there are some other nice songs and the overall vibe is authentic and warm. A good classic country album, 3.5/5.0 but probably rounding down to 3 stars.
Not my thing but highly amusing to listen to. (Yes, ugly syntax. Shoot me.)
This is my grandfather’s country music. Just too dated and out of my style preference for me to fully appreciate.
When I saw this come up I thought, "not another 70s album..." but I was pleasantly surprised. This is the type of country I actually like, classic instrumentation with good stories.
This is just some good country music. Great storytelling and gorgeous fiddle. The end of the album explores the highs and lows of love which I found very sweet.
1973 Have I said that I'm not a fan of country music? FFS, this is horrific! I can imagine this being the music of choice at a truck stop on the A17 in the Fens. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ 50% Revisit ❌️ Jesus ★☆☆☆☆ (2/10)
Here I go having to eat my words again. I was dreading this, esp with “honky tonk” in the name. Fuck me, it’s great. Waylon has a wonderful bass voice and some songwriting chops. If this is classic country, sign me up for the rodeo.
Absolutely amazing I love country music so much im gonna explode
Country music is grand
This is soul music for outlaws.
Enjoyable, I thought the playing was a step up from other albums of the genre. Nothing especially remarkable to me though
Started OK - I like the production more than Dwight Yoakam. He doesn't have the whiny quality to his voice. But the songs just aren't that good or memorable.
Cowboy shit
Too country for me...
Toe tapping Outlaw Country style done by a future member of The Highwaymen.
not really bad, but not a country fan. feels like a very OG kind of country tho, interesting listen
Love Waylon. 7/10
Well, this is pretty generic fare. Nothing to excite me here.
I can’t really tell if it’s a good album or not, since country isn’t my taste and I can’t properly engage with it. I liked the guitar on the opening track, but the slide guitar sound on the second track—the stereotypical “country twang”—isn’t for me
A landmark outlaw country record, built almost entirely on Billy Joe Shaver’s songs and Waylon’s grit. Tracks like “Honky Tonk Heroes” and “Old Five and Dimers (Like Me)” balance swagger with tenderness, giving the album both barroom bite and quiet reflection. It’s lean, raw, and full of lived-in truth — a sharp contrast to the polished Nashville sound of the era. Not quite a perfect five, but a solid 4-star album that set the blueprint for generations of alt-country and Americana artists to follow.
Country guapo, para escuchar
3.5
Wow! Die erste Entdeckung. Das gefällt sehr gut.
I enjoyed the title track. That’s about it. It’s fine but honky tone really ain’t my thing.
Short, sweet, good toe tapping rocking chair type music, enjoyed it but likely only in small doses
Good tunes…three chords and the truth. I like “outlaw country” and enjoyed this, but I’m also not sure what made the editor of this list pick this particular album. I found the exaggerated Beatles-level panning of the stereo mix really distracting…it made the individual instruments louder, but in a ham-handed way that I think was disorienting and took away from the experience. Nothing like checking your right AirPod is broken because a harmonica solo blasted into your left out of nowhere
Never been huge on country but lyrically, this album hits, I definitely rate it. Top 3 are honky tonk heroes, old five and dimers and willy the wandering gypsy and me.
For country it's ok. Not my favorite, but I enjoyed listening.
3.4
One of the great country male singers. Great voice, great songs.
Not for me/5 Honestly though, good singing, good country. Just doesn't do anything for me.
I can’t believe I’m rating this album this high. This is a type of music I specifically dislike. Yet I found myself enjoying this, finding some of the songs catchy, and even laughing while listening to ridiculous country lyrics.
Whooo… a perfect storm of an album. Hotshot young writer meets legend. Legend says let’s do something then ducks writer. Writer convinces legend to do it. Chet Atkins says no way… Waylon says, good go. Calls his boys, makes one of, if not the best country albums of all time. Sells like hot cakes. Starts whole movement.
Solid country album.
I always appreciate the unpolished music of raw country. Great stuff
A very solid country album with some rock n roll twang to it.
I particularly liked the knee-slappers, the slow songs maybe for a sad day. Likes to sing about people like him apparently. Wild and free.
Country is very underrepresented in this book. It is perhaps the most popular form of music in the world and there are dozens of influential albums that guided the 90’s country revival into what it became. Other genres get 4-5 albums from a subgenre in the book, whole country gets “Here’s one outlaw country album.” Willie Nelson has two albums in the book and one of them are standards. There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, from George Strait, Lyle Lovett, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and the only Taylor Swift album is “1989,” which isn’t country at all. Jimmy Buffett is the man behind hundred million dollar lifestyle brand and yet he deserves nary a mention. This book was created by British critics and country music, especially country music after 1980, is below them. It’s an abomination that one single George Strait album isn’t in here. To ignore AN ENTIRE FUCKING DECADE of popular music (the 90’s country) because there wasn’t enough thump-thump in the songs that are 9 minutes long is ridiculous. I’m not a huge Waylon Jennings fan and there is other work I like by him as much or if not more than this. Regardless, this was a great album and I wish this wasn’t one of the only outlaw country albums in this book. Alas, it is. Listen to this and please enjoy it. This is really good work by a very influential artist and is why this book exists. To turn people on to music they haven’t been exposed to. I just wish the editors of the book knew that.
Enjoyed this more thab I thought I was going to. Short snappy fun songs. Pretty enjoyable overall
A welcome palate cleanser to other recent albums the algorithm has served me. Great classic country.
Just classic old school country from one of the greats. Decent listen.
This was a fun listen, and a nice departure from some of the more recent albums here. Just good ‘ol boys singing good ‘ol outlaw country songs.
Very solid. Nothing really stood out which holds me back from rating higher but overall a good listen. I haven’t listened to much Waylon but prob should explore more of his catalog. I also don’t listen to much country but I really enjoy sturgill Simpson. I guess I never appreciated how much his vocals sound like Waylon.
This is fine. Thought I'd like a lot more, but it was just fine. 2.5/5
Fun listen and a short run time. Drives me nuts when the artist doesn't write their own music and only one song on this album was written by Waylon. Album is a 4 but rating a 3 for not writing the music.
Short and sweet and actually good. Highlight: You ask me to.
Pretty cool album. Close to being a 5 but not quite
it alright. i wish texas was real.
This was great. I maybe shouldn’t listen to the lyrics too closely.
Very nice! I’ve spent more time with Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, but Waylon is right up there with them.
Some nice country goodness. Any friend of Willie is a friend of mine.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Ain't No God In Mexico Honky Tonk Heroes "Outlaw" country isn't nearly as edgy as one might given what it meant to be an outlaw in the mid west in the 1800s. To be honest, all I could think about when I read the album blurb was Carol/Cheryl/Charlene/Cristal from the TV show Archer yelling "Outlaw Country" over and over again while singing Danger Zone with Kenny Loggins . But anyways... I categorically dislike nearly all country I've come across, and so this is no different. If I am going to listen to this kind of music, it might as well be the Grateful Dead: El Paso, Loser, Deal, Mexicali Blues, Jack Straw, etc. They are my one exception, but really, the really blur the line between country and psychedelic rock, especially once you get into the 80s live shows. There's obviously overlap between Waylon Jennings and the Dead; I just wasn't impressed.
What I'm here for. Will 100% look for this album in Half Price, etc.
Waylon gets in, handles his business, and gets out. Great lyrics (no, really, some true classics in here) and slick early-70s production make this a good time to listen to.
This is the two hundred sixth album I’m rating. I listened to one of his songs and it was really good. Adding to my Playlist - Honky Tonk Heroes, Old Five and Dimers (Like Me), Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me, Low Down Freedom, Omaha, You Ask Me to, Ride Me Down Easy, Ain’t No God in Mexico, Black Rose, and We Had it All. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. All in all I liked 10/10 songs. I like country.
I dug the vibes - it was a nice short listen, with some solid songs and sounds.
Only some country, but not this
Wonky Tanked Zeros
rinky dink zeroes
Not bad
Herpa derp countryskräp 0/5
Why do I actually really like this? I've always stated that I don't believe in the existence of bad music genres, but country is one that rarely gets that high of a score from me. I'm usually like "This isn't bad, but I can't say I love this. I do respect it though." But this? It's not my favorite country album I've done this year, but it's one of the better ones for sure. I had no idea I would enjoy an album called Honky Tonk Heroes as much as I do. I guess outlaw country appeals to me or something. This album's got a lot to love. I think Waylon Jennings has a voice that just feels right for country. He's clearly southern, but not to the point of feeling like a caricature. I like it. The writing is solid. Most of it comes from a guy named Billy Joe Shaver, who seems to be pretty talented in the lyrical field. Good songs. I also really like how this album sounds. The opening title track shows this off excellently. It starts out all light and such before getting faster and more fun on a moment's notice and I love it. This album's weirdly short though. It's just under half an hour, but it only kind of feels like it. I think this thing could've been a bit longer, but I also find myself appreciating the fact that it doesn't overstay its welcome. I've got to say, this is some good stuff. It's nice to be reminded of the fact that I've enjoyed music from just about every genre out there. Light 4/5.
Pretty Chill Country Album. Wouldn't listen to again though. Live sound. No single vibe but overall pretty decent.
Great country album, this is what I think of when I think country music. Excellent vocals and music without being over the top twangy, not modern pop country. I feel like this is legit and he is singing from a real perspective. I am not a big country fan but this is really nice, easy to listen to with great beats. This feels like something I could listen to again and enjoy. The lyrics seem inspired too from a time when music was made differently.
Cartoonish classic
Very good
I guess I like old country. Who knew?
Surprisingly enjoyable
This is a great album!!
Ni idea. La portada es como la ultima foto de "El resplandor" pero en versión country. No estilo, pero "we had it all" es una maravilla de este disco. Quiero revisar mi puntuación sobre Nick Drake, puedo? Sé que no, pero es para que quede constancia. Cinco estrellas para él totalmente. Cantando así de mierda el tío hace un disco formidable. Cinco estrellas sin ironía.
Its good and polished and listenable, but......it just isn't for me at all.
🪕 Rating: 4.9 / 5 🍺 Short Review: Sounds like a jukebox in a saloon where everyone’s too tired to lie but too proud to cry.
Never really explored the Waylon discography much despite having multiple Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, etc. albums. I don’t like his voice as much as the others I mentioned, but this is a fun listen with lots of good songs. Happy to be exposed to it.
3/5 - I guess I needed to hear one of the early outlaw country albums, but nothing here is going to stick with me.
Black Rose is a fun song. Appreciate the musicianship here and there but overall too slow for me.
Loved Old Five and Dimer We had it all ❤️
Nothing wrong with the music, but it is not to my taste. The album has the same song feel the whole way through, varying very little.
I had heard some Waylon Jennings before but not a whole album. There was a lot I liked and a lot that was too hokey for me. I can see how the album was influential in the genre though. Overall- pretty good
6/10
This kind of country is leagues better than what is considered "country" today. So good.
I'm more of an old-school country fan so this wasn't really my flavor and I've never been much of a Waylon fan. This was OK.
I miss this style if Country. I get it, all things must adapt and change in order to survive. But I still miss this
Maso
Just cant seem to get onto it. Can't find anything very interesting to appreciate
Considerando que en general no me gusta este tipo de música country, puedo decir que este álbum al menos me pareció agradable de escuchar. De todas maneras no me gustó, pero aunque sea tiene una buena orquestación, letras y una equilibrada combinación entre un sonido country acústico y rock eléctrico. En estos términos prefiero una música más llevada al rock que al country (como hace Mark Knopfler por ejemplo). Pero al menos el álbum es corto y no llega a cansar en la escucha. Por momentos me recuerda a ciertos temas interpretados por Elvis. Hay una cuestión estética en la voz particularmente que tiene una sutil similaridad. El último tema "We Had It All" es un lindo cierre para el álbum. Pero el álbum en si no me pareció sobresaliente.
I was expecting some old-fashioned, dated country music from Honky Tonk Heroes, but I was pleasantly surprised. This album is far better than I anticipated. It’s classic country at its finest—rich with melody and storytelling that weaves pain, hope, and love into every track. The album is short and sweet, making it an easy, enjoyable listen. While I liked it, I’m not sure it’s something I’ll come back to regularly. Favourite tracks: “Omaha” and “Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me” Least favourite track: Honestly, every song was worth a listen. Album artwork: The cover captures a joyful moment—everyone looks like they’re having a great time.
7/10
Better than any country album today, which I guess doesn’t say much
My kinda country. Compact sing song tunes, soft and buzzy. This is an album.
That was surprisingly uninspiring. It was pleasant enough background but didn't do much for me.
I don't generally enjoy country, but this was really nice and what I wish more of it was like. Highlights: honky tonk heroes
Solid country Jennings unvarnished voice and delivery adds an odd unexpected rough hewn charm to the songs.
Another old school country album that I liked much more than I expected I would. Still didn't love it or think it was amazing, but it was good enough. It was a little slow/subdued for me, but the points when it picked up made it better. The transition for the second half of Honky Tonk Heroes grabbed my attention pretty early. There were a few other moments like that. I would've liked for there to have been more, since I did find it a little easy to zone out on and have it blend together a bit. I'll say I found it solid, bordering on good. Overall: 3/5
my complaint of lack of diversity of melodies and moods in country albums shows up here as well but there’s something about the record ( maybe how long it’s been since I got country ) stands out to me. The lyrics do grab my attention at time as well and the first few songs are super fun
Artiste inconnu. Le premier morceau avec son accélération centrale m'a fait espérer un peu. Espoir vite douché par les morceaux suivants, complètement country et totalement ennuyeux pour moi. =>1/5
We used to be a proper country
Actually really enjoyed this album.
This was class. Expected half hour of dukes of hazard music but was thoughtful songwriting and really nice production. Will add this to a playlist.
country creo
Yeehaw
This one just didn’t hit for me. I’m not really into the outlaw cowboy vibe, so it was always going to be a bit of a stretch. Also — does this really count as a full album? It’s only 27 minutes long. Sure, in the '70s there were physical limitations, but even so, it feels more like a long EP than an album. Raises a few questions, that’s for sure.
Its nice!
Like a lot of country, Honky Tonk Heroes was an easy-on-the-ears album. It's that old style country but has more of a bop to it, which allows it to sound more modern for 1973. The more specific genre of outlaw country isn't terribly removed from country, but I think Waylon Jennings did a good job on this album to make such a distinction. Jennings' album probably flew too much under the radar, but it still sounded a lot better than other nonsense I've heard.
I'm not historically a Waylon Jennings person, or even much of an outlaw country person. But going into this album with an open mind, it was decent. It was short and sweet and to the point. Sometimes I can find outlaw country to be a pit one-note, but honestly, this album shows a decent amount of diversity in the genre. To put it simply, Waylon Jennings is an absolute country legend and deserves a spot on this project. Would I have picked THIS album? Probably not. But here we are. Don't get me wrong, there's some good songs on this album, but none of these are his BIGGEST hits, which are more in line with what I would call essential listening. But anyway, glad to see this legend represented!
Sincere performances and tasteful production, but not my bag at all. Trad country rock. Cack.
3.5 stars
It's much better than today's weird hip-hop, pop rock, country hybrid trash.
Classic Waylon. We lost the giant when he passed.
mi piace
This is country I like. Good album by a classic country star.
9.7/10. Maybe greatest country album of all time.
Simple and fun. A bit of a throwback but that isn't a bad thing.
Sometimes you come across something which is absolutely not your jam but is so clearly the top of its respective game you have to enjoy on its own merits and this is that album
Nice
I didn't hate this as much as I expected to, but even at only 27 minutes long, it felt like an eternity to get through. I'd like to think my musical palette is fairly diverse, however I have very little time for this type of "bandit country" music. I'm sure this was an important album in some way, shape or form as to find itself on this list (or am I?), but it's just too rudimentary by today's standards.
First listen
Make sure u throw this on the jukebox next time ur in the saloon
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
Really enjoyed this one. Felt like a mix of Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. Easy country vibes with some rock and roll sounds.
First country album. Not bad, but not great.
Great!
Hits the spot.
When people say they don’t like country it’s the radio garbage they’re thinking of. This is the real stuff.
Big 3 day drought for me with country related music. This is actually pretty good and flows perfectly. I dont like this music but I appreciated this album because of the pace mostly. A really faithful album to the generes roots.
This is pleasant enough. I’m not really drawn to the singles (e.g., “We Had It All”), but “Omaha” is really nice. I’m a lot more drawn to Jennings’s later work.
This album did not get off to a good start. Admittedly, I’m not a country fan, but it wasn’t that. It’s that the opening 3 songs were all pretty sleepy and a bit slow for my taste. Low Down Freedom is when this album picked up from my perspective. The phrasing and cadence gave me a Gordon Lightfoot type of feel, even if it was a true country song. Omaha followed with some good harmonies in another well constructed song. Then came You Ask Me To, which might have been when this album peaked. Builds really well with tons of interesting guitar work. And Jennings voice really stands out on this one. An excellent song. The rest of this album is uneven. Ride Me Down Easy wore me down quickly. A boring song that’s just sort of there. Ain’t No God In Mexico picked back up and had a lot more energy to it. Same went for Back Rose, which had some cool guitar and harmonica work. The closer, We Had It All was better than some of the other slow songs on here, but still just wasn’t that great for me. Solid album, just nothing that exciting.
Too country and/or western for me. 1/5
Vitun kova countrylevy! 4/5
Toimivaa kantria. Mukavan napakka myös.
This was a welcome reminder that when I say "I hate country music," what I actually mean is that I despise what commercialism did to country music. Starts strong and never drags. This kind of experience is why I'm here; perhaps the list could lose just a small portion of the Morrissey and middle of the road Brit nostalgia in favor of more varied influential albums?
1001 country albums that sound like each other
Just not my thing
Hyper-predictable country. Nah. I'll give it a 2 because it's "not bad at what it does".
I prefer less instrumentation on these but good stuff, direct, funny at spots.
I appreciate this album for what it is. It’s widely regarded as the first signature outlaw country album. After renegotiating his contract with RCA, Waylon Jennings gained full creative control and stepped away from the polished Nashville production style that was dominating country music at the time. Instead, the production on this album leans into a deliberately rough edge, with an organic sound that feels more like a live performance than a carefully constructed studio record. Overall, it’s a very solid album and one that clearly influenced a wave of artists to pursue a more raw and organic country sound. That said, I have to admit I wish I enjoyed it more personally. It’s a fun album to visit, and I respect its importance, but it’s not something I see myself returning to often.
Waylon just has a voice like no others and isn’t boring while using it.
Rasti seinään, ensimmäinen kantrilevy josta tykkäsin?
This is the good country. Im not blown away by this record though kinda sadly. Still a good record. Tons of variety. Hits a million different notes. Slow songs. Upbeat songs. Ballads. Title honky tonk. Its just good without standing out too much
As stated before, I'm not a big fan of country music. Nor am I a fan of 70s country production. Thankfully, this mostly avoided the terrible wall-of-backing-vocals, excessive slide guitars, and unnecessary string sections. Well, up until the last track, which is so schmaltzy with strings that Jennings should be ashamed to be on it, but I guess he isn't since it's the only song he co-produced, and noted on the front cover artwork. Overall, it's just ok for me. Nothing I would likely revisit, but it wasn't a pain to get through either. Best: "Black Rose", "Low Down Freedom" Worst: "We Had It All"
That was some good Honky Tonk!
That Waylon Jennings could maintain a career as a recording artist and performer while wearing so much plot armour is worthy of the deepest respect. It’s fitting, really, that the 20th century’s most notable musical survivor would go on to play such a pivotal role in keeping a receding musical tradition alive. And while all that honky tonk isn’t totally to my taste, there’s something genuinely charming about the country music outlaws – rage against the winnowing machine? – and their sticking it to the Nashville man. This is a solid collection of songs that – and one presumes by design – sounds like it’s beaming in from a time long before it was recorded. And as silly as I’ll admit to finding its themes, Jennings’ baritone keeps the sweet molasses from getting overwhelming. Surely – this is a man who launched a thousand parodies. Yet you’d struggle to ever call anything here a joke. With something of this quality as its guarantor, honky tonk forever lives to fight another day.
Not a country music fan, but enjoyed this album more than I thought I would.
Probably the easiest country album I have listened to. We had it all was my favourite track.
Good. Could get into it a bit more
Outlaw country
If anyone ever makes a movie about me, I want this album to play at a pivotal scene where I’m struggling with a big decision. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, THIS is Country music. And it doesn’t get much better than this.
Jennings creates an immersive emotional journey through evocative storytelling, transporting listeners into both the vivid physical landscapes he occupies, as well as the intimate mental terrain of his reflections on life, regrets, and dreams.
nice! Had always heard of Waylon Jennings, never listened.
im not american. 2.25
my dad loves country music and it was something that was played a lot in the house growing up. with that background country music is something i sometimes got in the mood to listen to but i’ve never actually listened properly to old roots country music. if i’m not in the mood i have a hard time with it. i feel like i will need more listens with this album but i like the sound of it. i love the gritty tones mixed in it. the weeping sound of “old five and dimers (like me)” is where i get bored. esp when going from the gritty rock country in the title track. “omaha” has been my favourite track. i love the sound of it! my least favourite track, still a pretty song tho, is probably the last song, the cover RCA wanted to put on the album just to ensure some sales, they were hesitant to release a full album of songs written by a then unknown songwriter, billy joe shaver. 4/5
Better than I was expecting it to be but not sure that I'd go back to it again
I did enjoy this but i'm not sure it's something i'd relisten to on the regular.
We had it all at the end was nice
solid
I am not a country guy, but this classic stuff is tolerable to most other country. I'll be nice and lean towards a low 3 here but don't plan to come back to this one.
Title track is pretty great tbh -- was not expecting the technicolor shift at 1:20 from acoustic stripped down, old-style country into something upbeat and amplified with thick bass and crusty guitar. Absolutely love Ain't No God in Mexico. The bass is so warm, plucked guitar outro so sweet, and the lyrics are kind of hilarious. I've said it before, but alternative/outlaw country just works for me. This one is particularly short, sweet, and well produced. The vocals sound great, bass is warm and burbling, and the guitars throughout are effective and varied in their twang and brightness. Solid 4 for me.
Solid country. Not much else to say.
Some nice old timey country that was under a half hour, can't complain about that. High 3
This was ok. As someone who is not a huge fan of country it definitely seems on the better side although a bit boring, but had its moments. There is some sad country in here also which I am leaning into because I am depressed from Bonnaroo. Meh 3.
Sold me. Was worried it would either be rhinestone cowboy style or a little too much traditional -- but the birth of outlaw country, I'm here for it.
The type of country I fuck with. Introduced me to the term ‘outlaw country’ and will be digging a little deeper. Favorites: honky town heroes Rating: 7/10
Harvoin kantria kuuntelee, mutta kyllähän tällasta kuuntelee!
Weirdly familiar country music
Outlaw country is easily my favorite country subgenre. Seems almost unrecognizable to the modern trash coming out. Somehow comes in at under 30 minutes despite the songs feeling like they take their time and aren't rushed. Rating: 4.8
I enjoyed this a lot. This isn't my usual fare, but I would definitely listen to it again.
2,5/5 Definitely not an album I'd normally listen to. All in all, it's all right; there are a few cool tracks here and there ("Old Five and Dimers (Like Me)", "Black Rose", and "We Had It All"), but most of it is just ok.
This was decent but we can't really remember it either.
I enjoyed this.
Now THIS is my type of country.
hard nosed honky tonkin' - "the devil made me do it the first time, the second time I done it on my own"
I’ve only recently started enjoying country music, and this is absolutely the kind of country music I can get behind. So personal and genuine, good guitar and instrumentation, just felt good start to finish. A bit shorter than some other albums on here but it was the perfect amount to keep me engaged throughout. I really liked Omaha.
first listen pretty great
Quick in and out. Not bad.
An absolute banger of an album. Every song is near country perfection. I had never heard this album before but I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to discomer it. The band is stellar, the playing on every track filled with nuance, subtlety, space and attention to detail. Speaking of detail this is an beatiful sounding album. The details in the instrumentation is beautifully rendered. The details of each instument is easily discerened but never in your face, always balanced in in service of the song. A nearly perfect album. 5 stars
Not very familiar with classic country like this, but I do know his name. This was not my cup of tea (especially today) but was fine. 3/5
Wow! Amazing
This is a certain kind of fantastic. I may have heard this before, years ago, as my dad had a cassette with Merle on one side and Waylon on the other side, and I don't remember the album titles... but believe me when I say that modern country is a pale shadow of the real roots country. Bob Wills is still the king!
I didn't think this to be his best. Kinda raw, less than polished.
Much too slow. Bit boring. But can appreciate it is probably a good example of its genre.
I gotta listen to this era more damn. So much soul. Torn between a 3 and 4 but think I gotta go with 4 from the deep cuts on this album carrying so hard. Low down freedom makes me wanna belt out the chorus along with him, and we had it all just tears your heart out at the end of the album
A genuine twang Strong lyrics and tunes makes them Honky tonk heroes
This is almost annoying in how relatable it is. The sound is so down to earth that I hope it's genuine and that this guy isn't a sham. Reading up on it, I love that he had an unknown songwriter for the album and people kept having issues with it so he kept firing them and making it happen. Great album and representation of this style of country. Nice listen and doesn't overstay its welcome.
The audio quality is so good, so dynamic and rich. I love how country music like this excels at story telling. That instrumentation on You Ask Me To. The track lengths and album length, chefs kiss. A nice mix here. You can slow dance with your partner or ride the rails with them. Sounds nice if you ask me.
Country is one of my weakest genres when it comes to music knowledge, but I could kind of tell right away that I would be on board with Waylon Jennings' music. Really liked this one.
Billy Joe Shaver gets Waylon on the right track
I went into this thinking I'd hate it which I don't like doing but I've been stung a couple of times with country. Reluctantly I start the first track. It starts off slow, with a little guitar riff. Waylon Jennings comes in with a bit of a stereotypical but enjoyable voice. Then a little delicate violin in the background. The vocal melody is really catchy and has the sound of a big singalong chorus. Then a third of the way through the track a blues electric guitar starts chugging away and the drums kick in. It turns into a proper foot tapping bluesy country rock song. I am genuinely loving this. Another verse and chorus followed by a back and forth harmonica/guitar battle then Jennings takes us home with a final chorus. I hope, wish and pray that the rest of the album follows suit. Next track is a slow old school country saloon track, as is the next one. Please don't do this to me Waylon! The rest of the album never hits the heights of the first track. I'm not sure what it is about the opener. The blues tone, the rock and roll vibe? Something about it grabbed me and it's going straight on every playlist I have. It's honestly so good. The rest is your standard country. Slow, moody, drones on and on. Mercifully it's only 27 minutes long. Damn you Waylon, you nearly had me for a few minutes!
This sort of music is so image-conscious that I cannot take it seriously as genuine artistic expression. Like, you know exactly what the preoccupations of this album will be before you ever hit play. Being a lonely cowboy is hard. Being a lonely cowboy while also getting lots of pussy is especially hard. Being ‘free’ (which I guess just means being away from lawmen and cities and soap) is cool. Drinking gin from a jug is also cool. You see a track called 'Low Down Freedom' and you can practically write it yourself: lamenting about having to leave the girl who's just spent the evening 'fitting' the singer's body (gross) because all that freedom is irresistible to a wild cowboy like he. Every creative decision is made to satiate people who would burn down the hootenanny if this music didn’t fit within these very narrow prescriptions. We should not indulge them.
Unexpectedly enjoyed this! I can’t really relate to any of these songs, but there is an undeniable gentlemanly charm in Jennings’ delivery. The slower tunes drag a bit, but the interplay between electric guitar and banjo on the more upbeat numbers is really fun. I’d listen to this again. ✨
ja ganz süßer country record. 3.5
Turns out I fuckin' live Waylon Jennings. Would recommend as a soundtrack when digging a hole
short and sweet, not my usual genre, but not an offensive listen