‘Strange Country’ is exactly what it says on the tin, a collection of weird and wonderful Americana with a dark underbelly, that falls on the wrong side of the tracks. The original Man In Black aka Johnny Cash gets us underway with the self loathing ‘I Hung My Head’, a tale of a murderous moment of madness and regret, that’d bring a tear to the eye of the most hardened of rednecks. Calexico follow with ‘Battle Of Cable Hogue’, a picturesque ditty where the snakes & scorpions run. Micah P. Hinson also makes an appearance with ‘Beneath The Rose’, a breathtaking cut from his excellent album ‘And The Gospel Of Progress’. Other highlights include Porter Waggoner’s ‘Rubber Room’ with it’s Lux Interior on downers feel. The freaky duet between good and evil that is Gram Rabbit’s ‘Dirty Horse’. Shimmering psychedelics from Sparklehorse with ‘Spirit Ditch’, and the quivering vulnerability of Bright Eyes with ‘Train Under Water’. Loretta Lynne teams up with Jack White for a strung out rendition of ‘Have Mercy’, and last but most definitely not least, the ultimate country rebel Hank Williams delivers ‘Ramblin’ Man’. ‘Strange Country’ comes over like the soundtrack to ‘Natural Born Killers Pt2’.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: DEAN THATCHER
