Don Henley, best known as the founding member of the Eagles, has released a solo country album, Cass County. This album is Henley’s first solo project in 15 years and was recorded in Nashville. Cass County features all star guests, including Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Dolly Parton, and Merle Haggard on duets AND Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, Alison Krauss, Ashley Monroe, and Vince Gill on harmonies.
Don Henley is a well known rock icon, therefore I was a little uneasy going into listening to this album. I tend to lean toward staunch country traditionalist, and proudly wave that classic country flag. I can’t begin to swallow the wretched Bro Country nor can I tolerate the latest R&B sound that Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett ushered in. All this weighed heavily on my mind as I hit the play button. But I’m happy to announce that I was pleasantly surprised by Cass County. The record is actually REALLY country! In reality, it’s 10 times more country than what you’ll hear on the radio today. I applaud Don Henley for being the first rocker to succeed in making a real country album.Cass County opens with the folk flavored “Bramble Rose”, featuring Miranda Lambert and Mick Jagger. It’s a slow, sad song about a man losing a good woman who had had enough and whose love turned “into a bramble rose”. It’s an excellent sad country song. Henley and Miranda shine on this track, complimenting each other’s vocals well. Miranda is an excellent harmonizer and can really sing with anyone, although I honestly could have done without Mick Jagger on this song. His voice doesn’t really fit the track and it’s just not that good. But Henley and Miranda really save the song, and it’s still a great track, even with Mick Jagger.
“The Cost of Living”, a track about the pros and cons of having a few years behind you, features the legendary Merle Haggard. Any song with Merle Haggard in it is guaranteed to be a good one; Haggard shows us the reason he has become a living legend every single time he sings. Henley’s vocals go well with Haggard’s, as Henley does an excellent job of harmonizing with the legend.
You can hear Vince Gill’s prominent, recognizable vocals in the background of “No, Thank You”. The track is one of the more modern country sounding tracks on the record, and by modern country I mean country circa 1990s. “Waiting Tables” tells a tale of a single mother, who works as a waitress while she bides her time waiting for something better to come along, someplace better to go. “Take A Picture Of This” finds Henley portraying the end of a marriage, all the while trading in the pedal steel, which has been ever present on the album up to this point, for the tympani.
“That Old Flame” finds Henley teaming up with the vocally magnificent Martina McBride. The duo sings about the dangers of rekindling an old flame from the point of view of a couple who are no longer together, but are considering giving it another try. Ultimately they decide it’s best to just go their separate ways and forgo getting back together. This track features a rock sound, featuring drums and electric guitars, but it’s toned right down. You’ll find more rock sounding songs from Jason Aldean. It’s easy on the ears and enjoyable to listen to. Martina has proven time and time again that she can sing anything, any genre and pull it off (for a more in depth look at this song, check out the single review here).
The queen of country music, Miss Dolly Parton joins Henley on “When I Stop Dreaming”, a Louvin Brothers cover. We hear another side to Dolly’s voice, as she strips it back to achieve a raspier sounding vocal, which works well with Henley’s rasp. The song finds the two declaring that “When I stop dreaming, that’s when I’ll stop loving you.” It’s another excellent duet on this all star packed record.
“Too Much Pride” has a touch of R&B flavor to it, reminiscent of Ray Charles, all the while still walking that country line. I love the fiddle parts on “She Sang Hymns Out of Tune”, a track that has a Spanish folk flavor to it. You can also hear Ashley Monroe and two of the Dixie Chicks on backing vocals. Henley takes a cynical stance on May/December relationships on “A Younger Man”. Henley tells the young woman in the song that “If you’re looking for believers in faith and hope and charity/ Then you’re looking for a younger man, not me”. The narrator of this track obviously looks at life through very cynical eyes, and is unwilling to change that stance.
Henley concludes the album with the very appropriate “Where I Am Now”. This is the most rock sounding track on the record, featuring a more bluesy-rock production, reminiscent of the Eagles. It’s a fitting song to end the record with, as it declares that he likes where he is now. It’s a message to his fans that he’s right at home in his own skin and plans on taking another victory lap. Overall, this is a really good record and more importantly, a honest to goodness country record. So well done Don Henley! Thank you for showing all the other rock singers how it’s done. Check this record out, you won’t be sorry.
Originally posted here.
