Album Review: Dale Watson – From The Cradle To The Grave

Ten songs in three days. That’s how long it took Watson to write the tracks for his latest album, From the Cradle to the Grave. Watson wrote/recorded all the songs in a cabin formerly owned by Johnny Cash (currently owned by Johnny Knoxville). He says at first he was adamant about not writing or recording anything remotely reminiscent of Johnny Cash. He didn’t want to be dismissed as trying to cop his vibe, but claims Cash’s presence was so strong he just went with it.

The album has Johnny Cash written all over it; I dig it. The opening song, “Justice For All” sports the classic boom-chuck sound of Cash; something that’s borrowed often throughout the album. A few songs later on the title track, “From the Cradle to the Grave,” Cash’s presence reappears as Watson leans heavily on “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town” for influence. And, in the closing seconds of “Runaway Train” Watson directly acknowledges Cash when he enters into a religious like chant and sings the words “I hear that train a comin’ / hey Porter, oh Porter / yea I don’t care if I do die.”

Some people might be put off by this obvious “channeling” of the Man in Black, but Watson pulls it off and I can’t think of anyone who could’ve done a better job at tackling the sound. Contrary to what the album cover artwork might lead you to believe, country music is still alive; those who have heard From The Cradle to the Grave can testify to that. My single beef with the album is that it consists of only ten tracks (the longest two come in right at three minutes) and seems rather short.