Cheatin' Heart Attack

iTunes Review

When Dale Watson debuted in 1995 with Cheatin’ Heart Attack, he was notable not only for his taste in retro country but because he wrote, sang, and played on all his songs. Watson looked the part; plus he had a rich, masculine voice to match George Jones and Merle Haggard, and the songs were solid. “List of Reasons” and “Caught” provide storytelling spiked with sharp wit, but there are also songs that don’t need humor to get across, like “Tonite, All Day Long,” which is about as plain and heartfelt a love song as modern country has delivered. The arrangements touch on all the great styles of classic country—from Buck Owens swing to Waylon Jennings swagger—but Cheatin’ Heart Attack isn’t a corny retro trip. It's full of real-life heroes from the Austin music scene, including guitarist Dave Biller, pedal steel man Jimmy Day, and fiddler Gene Elders. These musicians don’t just revive forgotten traditions; they assert the vitality of their current musical community. Watson may be breaking out in a “Nashville rash,” but Cheatin’ Heart Attack is proof that Austin's alive and well when it comes to making sophisticated country music.