Ridley Bent : Buckles & Boots

Occasionally someone will ask me if I like country music. My stock answer is that I love country music recorded well into the seventies, but after that, the pickings are mighty slim. Then, inevitably, I proceed to list a dozen current artists, all of who are making incredible country music. For example, Dwight Yoakam consistently churns out strong material and his recent Buck Owens tribute is well worth the price of admission. Keith Urban, with an assist from Alicia Keys, tore up Gimme Shelter at Live Earth. Jack White introduced The Coal Miner's Daughter to a new generation of fans and Ryan Adams recently helped Willie Nelson bounce back from his Countryman debacle. Then there’s Dale Watson and Robbie Fulks and Waylon’s kid, Shooter; the list goes on and on, but turn on CMT for an hour and you’re treated to some of the most odious artists ever to don cowboy hats (or top hats in the case of Big & Rich).

Nashville is the official country capital, but there are country artists popping up in the strangest places. Recently, I’ve been made aware of a budding country scene in Vancouver, spearheaded by occasional tour mates Corb Lund and Ridley Bent. These are two artists who deserve your attention. For starters, they’re putting an interesting regional stamp on classic country, rather than simply slapping a redneck twist on Top 40. More importantly, they’ll restore your faith in Canadian music and help you work through The Barenaked Ladies.

More on Corb Lund in the near future, but for now, let’s talk about Ridley Bent. I'm not going to lie to you, this guy, to quote a friend of Dee's, is "country as a chicken coop," and Dodge is going to crucify me for this post. An Alberta native, Bent picked up the guitar and eventually drifted to Vancouver. There, a security guard job and an endless supply of Louis L’Amour novels provided ample time and inspiration for him to fashion his unique take on country music. His sophomore effort, Bullets & Boots (available now from the good folks at Open Road Recordings), is populated with characters that would be right at home on any Tom T. Hall record. Bent's fine voice and crack backing band allow him to move effortlessly from weepers to roadhouse stompers without missing a beat. The record boasts several standout tracks, including the insanely catchy first single, Nine Inch Nails, a tongue-in-cheek two-stepper that proves that country music can be clever without insulting your intelligence.

If you're a country fan, you pull for the underdog or are just a fan of great music, don't hesitate to check out Buckles & Boots. Even if you don't like country music, but you're interested in one of the most honest and heartfelt records of the year, let Ridley Bent show you "where the bottle and the truth collide."

Ridley Bent - Nine Inch Nails

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