Review Summary: Outlaw country is alive and well.
Before we talk about one of the best modern outlaw country acts, it’s helpful to clear the air about what outlaw country really is. Contrary to what astroturfed Nashville stars may have you believe, outlaw country isn’t defined by how many songs an artist writes (or has written for them) about drinking, fighting and ***ing. Outlaw country is and always will be about artists striking out and doing country music their own way.
By that measure, it’s been a good recent run for outlaw country acts. Some of the biggest names in country like Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers and Colter Wall have stubbornly stuck to their guns, making music that’s authentic to their own vision. At the same time, country music has seen an explosive rise in popularity with busloads of hacks like Morgan Wallen rolling out from Nashville and dominating the charts, resurrecting the loathsome ‘bro country’ for the TikTok age.
In this bifurcated country music ecosystem, we find a true outlaw gem in Charley Crockett’s latest album – ‘Dollar A Day.’ Everything about this album is done Charley’s way, and it’s all the better for it. From the laid-back opening chords of the title track to the disco-infused grooves of ‘Age of the Ram’ and ‘Alamosa’ to the honkey-tonk 70’s twang of ‘Tennessee Quick Cash,’ Crockett refuses to be boxed in. The pacing of the album never lags, with songs sliding from bouncy riffs to laid-back ballads effortlessly, backed by smooth production that feels warm and familiar. Troops of horns, synths and backing vocals all know when to lean in and when to hold off.
The truly standout track for me (which in such a strong album really means a lot) comes by way of ‘I Stay Ready,’ just over the album’s halfway mark. Its moody verses resolve into indie-inspired choruses with bouncy bass, sinewy synths and Crockett’s lonesome crooning reaching overhead.
To me this album certainly holds a timelessness that I think really defines quality outlaw country. A record by Waylon or Willie sounds just as powerful and genuine in 2025 as it did when it was released. Modern classics like The .357 String Band’s ‘Fire & Hail,’ Hank III’s ‘Straight to Hell’ or Hellbound Glory’s ‘Nobody Knows You’ marry grit, conviction and talent in equal measures.
And of course, we have to briefly mention about the aesthetics here. Nobody can pull off cowboy sleaze with quite as much pizzazz as Crockett. The tongue-in-cheek album cover seems to have drifted forward in time four decades to land directly on this record’s sleeve.
With all this in mind, I’m confident in arguing that Charley Crockett is a breath of fresh air in modern country music. Feel free to continue ignoring pop country, especially when there are so many great options, and give this album a spin.
