Dale Watson is a fiercely independent cuss who doesn’t care whether you like him or not. Over the years, he has made public statements that have infuriated and confused fans as well as endeared him to others. One thing everyone agrees with is that Watson is a hell of a performer. He has a rich, deep voice that suggests sincerity even when he’s pulling your leg. As a singer and a songwriter, he’s convincing whether he’s shilling for Lone Star beer, making a dirty joke, or expressing heartfelt sentiments.
The 12 self-penned tracks on his latest album won’t piss anybody off. He celebrates traditional country values like love, life, and liquor. Watson coined the term Ameripolitan to describe his sophisticated honky tonk style. In Unwanted, he name-checks Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Ernest Tubb, and Bob Wills. These are among his heroes, and Watson’s own music would fit in the same jukebox as theirs.
Watson yearns for an idealised past, back when a Cadillac car stood out for its distinctive qualities, air travel was glamorous, and radio stations played a variety of music. He’s angry at the changes time has brought. He’s not whining. He rails against the losses modern life inflicts with a seriousness and a bawdy sense of humour on songs such as “What the Hell Happened to the Cadillac”, “Don’t Let the Honky Tonks Go”, and “Never Mend the Broken Spoke”. One might not agree with Watson’s complaints but concur with him on the song’s length.
He’s not a simple curmudgeon. Dale Watson understands that some things do improve with time. In particular, he knows that love can grow over time. In “Just Yesterday”, he demurely notes that he loved his honey less the day before than he does now and will do even more so in the future.
The Ameripolitan artist sings and writes about love, life, and liquor with equal fervour. He’s a passionate man, whether he’s crooning about yellow mustard or his own death. He’s blunt, to a fault. “If you really love me, outlive me”, he pleads in the song with that title. He means it—those of us of a certain age share that sentiment about our partners. The phrase “We could not live without them” is a true statement rather than a boast or overstatement.
Or when singing about love, coy references to trying harder, feeling inside you, and such are strong double entendres meant literally and figuratively. Watson understands that the body and the soul are connected in love. He chastely sings the lovely duet “You’ve Got My Heart” with his wife, Celine Lee, but both acknowledge past indiscretions. That makes their current romantic situation purer.
“Life Is Like a Song,” Watson tunefully croons. It will come to an end someday. The joy we get from it depends on our connections with others. We can find harmony. The dozen tunes here invite us to spend time together pleasantly. Grab a Lone Star and join Dale Watson on the dance floor.