Dale Watson - Cheatin' Heart Attack (CD)

All Music Guide

Watson's hearty, down-to-earth honky tonk makes Cheatin' Heart Attack one of the most exciting country debuts this side of Junior Brown's 12 Shades of Brown. Watson and his band Lone Star burn through 14 no-nonsense songs that prove the genre can be vital and fun at the same time. Watson's voice is pure, deep, and strong, and his songs feature guitar and pedal steel prominantly. He's a veteran of the Texas honky tonk circuit, which shows in his sharp arrangements on songs like "List of Reasons," "Holes in the Wall," and "Nashville Rash" - the latter mixing heartfelt commentary on the current country market with a smart sense of humor.

- Kurt Wolff, All Music Guide