If you’ve been missing the ’90s country sound, look no further than The Wilder Blue and their latest single.
When the idea for The Wilder Blue came together as the brainchild of music industry veterans Zane Williams and Paul Eason, it was meant to be a modern take on a classic ’90s country sound. That’s the approach they took on their fantastic debut record Hill Country, and while that influence remains prominent in the music six years later, their sound has morphed into something much more eclectic, combining that ’90s country sound with funk, southern rock, and bluegrass to forge something that is completely their own. This was certainly evident on their most recent record, Still in the Runnin’.
Now, though, it appears that the Texas-based outfit is making an emphatic return to their roots. Their latest release, “Texas Women,” feels exactly like something that would have been coming out of the Lone Star State’s dancehalls 30 years ago, and with that sound on full display, they’ve even brought in Texas native and ’90s country legend Tracy Byrd to feature on the tune.
Cleverly written by Williams, one of the most underrated writers in country music, the new track finds a narrator interviewing for a buttoned-up corporate job in Chicago, but after staying out late the night prior, he provides an unorthodox response to a pretty straight forward interview question. Luckily, his unexpected response strikes a chord with the executive conducting the interview, and his love for Texas women and country music land him the role.
“Up in downtown Chicago at a big ad firm
I has a job interview that was makin’ me squirm
And they asked me, ‘What does quality mean to you?’
Well, now the night before I’d stayed up too late
And I reckon I still wasn’t thinkin’ quite straight
‘Cause I accidentally just told ’em the truth
I said Texas women, Tennessee whiskey
Longneck bottles and tight fittin’s jeans
Nineties country with a cajun fiddle
It don ‘t get no better than that if you ask me”
Now who can’t get behind all of these things? In addition to Williams and Eason, The Wilder Blue is comprised of drummer Lyndon Hughes, Sean Rodriguez on bass, and multi-instrumentalist Andy Rogers holding it down on banjo, dobro, and whatever else they need him to play. Together, these guys are an absolute force, and boast some of the strongest harmonies in all of music.
They released another single recently as well titled “High Livin’,” and I highly suggest checking that one out as well.
