Aaron Watson, Texan country singer, who we have repeatedly seen live in Italy, is back with a new album, after the amazing “The Underdog” of 2015. The Underdog, thanks to magical chemistry and a series of combinations that develop in an almost unexpected way when you record an album, is a small masterpiece, difficult to repeat. Vaquero ( Watson’s eleventh studio album) doesn’t measure up to “The Underdog”, but it is still a good Cd, that deserves to be brought to the attention of the readers of Planetcountry. Just as any other album from this singer from Amarillo, even Vaquero has many love songs, songs about Texas and its people and, following the trails of Barbed Wire Halo in 2007, there are even some gospel and inspirational songs. The large number of tracks (16) also indicates that the inspiration and the desire to write songs is still very strong, and the Cd reflects precisely his “need” to share and express his emotions, beliefs and “way of life”. Aaron Watson, from this point of view, is undoubtedly complete, and it’s for this reason that we like him so much. The title, the Hispanic term for cowboys, and a few songs (“Amen Amigo” and the title song “Vaquero”), seem to represent a sort of extended hand from the United States towards the neighbouring Mexico, in a historical moment in which they are planning to build a wall dividing the two countries. Returning to the music, the songs (samples, since the release is officially scheduled for the 24th February) that I liked the most are the opening track “Texas Lullaby”, modern (but not too much), “These Old Boots Have Roots”, the sweet sounding “Big Love In a Small Town” and the wonderful “The Arrow”, a two step that brings back to mind the scent of bluebonnets and prairie grass . And, last but not least, a few words on the cover, depicting the Texan flag painted on a wall with Aaron standing in front of it holding a guitar. It will not be the most revolutionary cover of the world, neither a monument to pop art, but the effect is assured, and the pride of belonging to the Lone Star State is confirmed. (Gianluca Sitta)
