Sep 1, 2024

**Charley Crockett – *$10 Cowboy**
*Rating: 5/5*
My introduction to Charley Crockett came just before the release of his 2020 album, *Welcome to Hard Times.* It was an unexpected encounter, courtesy of Instagram’s algorithm, which somehow decided that a self-proclaimed rap enthusiast with a soft spot for ’90s ska might appreciate a blues-infused, Americana, outlaw country-western hybrid. The video that caught my attention was for the album's title track, featuring a singer-songwriter decked out in classic western attire, a well-worn Stetson, and a dazzling set of veneers that could rival Walton Goggins'.


The imagery still lingers in my mind: a solitary man traversing vast landscapes in a striking yellow duster, his baritone voice echoing through mountains, trees, and valleys, accompanied by an acoustic guitar and a piano that would feel at home in a dusty saloon. It was a stark contrast to the country music commonly played on my local radio station.


While the imagery intrigued me, the music didn’t quite click at the time. Maybe I didn’t give it a fair shot. My son was born a week later, and my playlists naturally gravitated back to my old favorites, along with the inevitable lullabies. Charley Crockett's name and music receded into the background of my mind, occasionally resurfacing either by chance or through a renewed curiosity to see if his sound would resonate more deeply.


Fast forward four years, and life took an unexpected turn when I was let go from my job due to corporate restructuring. Faced with the challenges of supporting my fiancée, our four-year-old son, and managing a mortgage amidst a rising cost of living, I found myself in a state of uncertainty.


*Welcome to Hard Times,* indeed.


In that moment, I remembered the title track from Charley’s 2020 album and decided to revisit it. I listened to the album from start to finish, alone on my deck, and then played it through once more. It was a revelation. The album, rich in live instrumentation—guitars, pianos, banjos, upright bass, organs, harpsichords, and live drums—stood in refreshing contrast to the manufactured country dominating the airwaves, where artists like Morgan Wallen blur the lines between pop and hick-hop with synthesized beats and mainstream appeal.


Over the next week, I delved into Charley’s extensive discography, which boasts a staggering 15 albums in nine years, including four cover albums—a nod to a long-standing country music tradition. While *Hard Times* was my gateway, one album stands out as the pinnacle of everything Charley has crafted to date: *$10 Cowboy,* released in 2024.


*$10 Cowboy* feels like a swan song to Charley’s career, both personally and professionally. It encapsulates his journey from busking in subway cars with The Train Robbers, to performing on the streets of Dallas, Paris, Copenhagen, Morocco, and New York City, and even his time working on a marijuana farm (and the subsequent trafficking arrest on Interstate 81 in Virginia circa 2014). Charley is, and always has been, a traveling man—a modern embodiment of Americana, folk, blues, and soul. His deep-rooted knowledge and appreciation of American country music, particularly the Southern Texas tradition, permeates the album. With his well-traveled musical experience, Charley blends genres effortlessly, creating a perfect fusion of modern Americana and country-western music.

 

Sep 2, 2024