Johnny Berry and the Outliers - Fegenbush Farm

Johnny Berry has a sound that'll appeal to every honky-tonk loving real country music fan. With a thundering baritone and some strong original songs partnered with a few terrific covers, this disc is a strong follow-up to "Shoot! Darn! Yeah!" for Berry and his Outliers, one-hundred percent country music for people who know there's more than what Nashville's telling us.

When drawing comparisons from Johnny Berry to the traditional sounds he emulates, it's hard not to compare him to Johnny Cash - like Cash, his tremendous baritone thunders authoritatively through well-selected songs and commands attention; but also, like Cash, it roams occasionally off-pitch. Still, can't think of any better company to put Berry in, except to add that some of his songs sound like Merle Haggard. So you really just can't go wrong when you spin this new disc, "Fegenbush Farm."

Berry's powerful voice does best when he's singing his own songs, although his cover of Cash's "Mean-Eyed Cat" is almost as good as the original. His songs have a solid honky-tonk feel, a good traditional two-stepping quality that makes for some really good listening.

Johnny was hired at the Opryland Theme Park as a performer when he was 19, then three years later worked with bluegrass great Doyle Lawson as a part of the band Quicksilver. The Outliers consist of Berry himself handling acoustic guitar and the odd lead, bass, and vocals; Steve Cooler taking lead for most of the tracks; and Andy Brown on drums. The simple three-piece group is well-supplemented by guests including Glenn Thompson's sharp pedal steel work, Eric Whorton and Wink O'Bannon's guitar work, and Nick England on keyboard. It's this kind of high-quality independent work that should be making waves, and would have in bygone years. Seek it out. It's worth the trouble.