Waco Brothers: Cowboy In Flames

Waco Brothers was one of the first groups to play insurgent country, the new revivalist brand of c/w that many people are hoping will catch fire and defeat the malignant thing that Nashville has become. Unfortunately, the Wacos might not be up to it, at least all by themselves. It's not just because some of them are, well, British—and therefore, people who might not have it in them to do country right. This is new country, and it could be that nationality has nothing to do with ability. No, the Waco Brothers' biggest problem is that the band sounds uncannily like The Clash—the last song on Cowboy In Flames sounds like a cover of "Rudie Can't Fail" with pedal-steel guitar and different lyrics. Even the straight covers of George Jones, Johnny Cash and Louvin Brothers sound like they came from an album called Agribusinessman In Hammersmith-Odeon. This might not be a bad thing, especially since no one knows what the new country sound is yet. And, taken purely on its own merits, it's a pretty good album. But, dammit, if Cowboy in Flames ain't more Clash than Cash, then grits ain't groceries.