John Doe & The Sadies

Country Club

2009-05-11

Although ex-punk rocker John Doe’s solo albums are country-rock, this CD with the Sadies is pure country. John Doe handles all the lead vocals, with The Sadies doing a fine job as his band. Most of the songs are classic, 60’s country songs, done with a “countypolitan” flavor. Doe has a soft, deep, rich voice. Fans of country music will recognize songs made famous by Waylon, Roger Miller, Tammy Wynette, Hank Snow, Ray Price, Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and Bobby Bare. There are four original songs here, including tracks 7 and 15 which are short bluegrass instrumentals. The others are tracks 4 and 8, of which I really liked track 4, “It Just Dawned On Me”, which fits right in. I find myself wishing that Doe’s vocals were a little stronger, and he seems to be straining on a few tracks, but maybe that’s the “sadness” being projected. Some folks will love this disk.