Album Review: Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash - New Old Story

It's been five years of waiting patiently, and I'm excited to announce that the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash have released a new CD - New Old Story. I was informed about the release through early play on Sirius Outlaw Country and once Mark Stuart posted the SoundCloud embed, I've been listening through the BSOJC website almost every day. This is the best country music album I've heard early in this year and seriously competes with my favorites from 2013.  Rootsy or twangy, Stuart delivers through both upbeat honky-tonk, tex-mex, or waltzy ballads. This is real country music - heartfelt songs with a great backing band that plays the instruments in No Honky Tonks: pedal steel, fiddle, mandolin, and plenty of rockn' guitar. We have Alex Watts, David Berzansky, Mark Thomas, and Michael Faughnan to thank for that. The songs sometimes resembles some of the greats, Merle Haggard throughout; Leave the Lights On and Shaver; the title track and Dave Alvin. As the pioneers move on, Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash are there to fill the gap. Now, please just come East for a tour. Pair with Stuart's hometown brewery, Bakersfield's Lengthwise Brewing. Cheers.