Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash - Mile Markers

When it comes to all-out, knocked-flat awesome country music, there aren't a whole lot of groups who can do it as well as the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash. Right from the start they were cool enough that their "adoptive father" didn't mind at all the use of his name; and right from the start they've shown that California cool country style that hasn't been seen since the resurgence of the Bakersfield sound back in the mid-80's. Their newest album, "Mile Markers," continues in that tradition, with twelve new songs written and arranged by lead man Mark Stuart (writing with Deane Cote on "Night Comes Down" ), and released on his own brand-new imprint label, Texicali Records (which chooses as its logo a pretty awesome combination of the Texas, California, and Mexican flags). Stuart also produces the disc as part of the "Texcali 3," along with fellow band mates Mike Turner and Alan Mirikitani. And while Stuart handles a goodly chunk of the business, this is clearly a group effort, with some staggeringly awesome sounds from serious players (including former Yoakam backers Taras Prodoniuk, Jim Christie, and Skip Edwards). With his music, Mark Stuart doesn't just sing this homage to his western homeland - he paints it.

The disc opens with quiet acoustic nylon-string picking (Mike Turner), with that distinct Southwestern flavor - you can almost taste the Ancho - and then kicks into "Austin Night," with some sweet whining pedal steel courtesy of Greg Leiz. Mark Stuart's warm voice delivers lyrics with passion that is undiminished throughout, from "The Road to Bakersfield" straight through to "The Pride of Abilene" as we travel with Mark and the rest of the gang throughout the Southwest. Never been to Texas? You'll see it here. You'll feel it. You'll feel those dust-dry winds and hear that unbelievably empty quiet (even over the driving hardchargin' beat) - it's something that thoroughly characterizes this desert world I love so, from about the middle of Texas all the way to the far east of California. You get out of those sprawling metropolis areas and there's nothin' but miles and miles of nothin' but "manzanita and Joshua trees." Along the way from Austin to Bakersfield, there's some good fiddle from Gabe Witcher, a trace of mandolin (again, Mike Turner), more hot guitar pickin' and always Stuart's smooth voice, strong lyrics, and powerful emotions.

It takes a certain sort to love the Southwest, and you can always sense a kindred spirit when they come along, know they appreciate the endless varieties of the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan deserts, the Sand Dunes and the Great Basin; even the rockin' tunes, like "Borderline of the Heart," are 100% western. There's a spirit there, a flare, the heart that's made the American Cowboy a hero even in these cynical days and after so much of that honesty and truth is gone. It still shines here and there, and with the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash, it's a live and flourishing.