Aaron Watson feels like the protagonist of a tobacco advertising campaign, like a dressman for American cowboy fashion – or simply as you would imagine a Texas country music artist. Watson is a quite established name in the business, indeed: since 1999, he is regularly releasing albums and grew his fan base steadily. On 8th January 2021, he released his latest album, American Soul. A review.
Aaron Watson – About The Artist
James Aaron Watson is a Texas country singer-songwriter, who was born on 20th August 1977 in Amarillo. At the age of 22, he released his first album Aaron Watson – Singers and Songwriters. His third album shutupanddance (2002) was the first one which got some national attention. Four years later, San Angelo was the first album chart placement for the artist. Since then, he was growing his popularity steadily, peaking in the mid-2010’s: his 2015 The Underdog even topped the US Country Charts, the following one, Vaquero, still made it second. The latter album also featured his biggest single hit, Outta Style, which made it to the Top 10 of the US Country Airplays. After a live and a Christmas album, he released his latest album, Red Bandana, in June 2019. The album peaked on the seventh spot of the US Country album charts. American Soul is Watson’s thirteenth studio album.
Aaron Watson – American Soul – Track by Track
The ten track album lasts 31 minutes.
1. Silverado Saturday Night
So baby climb on up and slide on in
High as a kite, feeling free as the wind
Find that buckle next to me in the middle
You can grind my gears but don’t you play me like a fiddle
We can tie one on and come unwound
Turn up the heat when the sun goes down
No, they don’t call it a truck bed for nothing, yeah, you know that’s right
Nothing’s better than a Silverado Saturday night
The first track on the album already feels welcoming, cozy: straight country music with a bit of a traditional touch – but also very speedy – the Silverado Saturday Night definitely feels like a hard hat and a party!
2. Boots
And I can’t keep my boots on the ground – the second track Boots is definitely bit of slower and has a big touch of romance in it. Again, I feel that Aaron Watson is creating a lovely sound, which makes you move. Sounds good!
3. Whisper My Name
You fire that engine up, feel that four on the floor
Your hands inside my shirt, feet up on the dashboard
I’m still your wildest side and, baby, you’re my wildest dream
Take you out and take you home, make a move and make you scream
When you whisper my name
Cool chorus! Apart from that, I really like that track again as well – not too surprisng Aaron Watson used it as a single beforehand. Really catching, straight country, with a modern, but also individual touch. Great writing!
4. Best Friend
Shall I spoil who the Best Friend in this song is? I decided not to do – and just recommend to listen to the song by yourself. A beautiful country ballad.
5. Long Live Cowboys
When I stated that Aaron Watson just looks like a prototype of a US cowboy (at least Europeanized perspective), it is not too surprising that he hopes for Long Live Cowboys. The song might be a bit too much on the heroic side – but finally, when you listen to it while driving through Texas on the Interstate, I am sure you will happily use the steering wheel or dashboard to clap a happy rhythm to it. Good song!
6. Stay
You make me wanna stay is the final verse of the chorus – and Stay is indeed a song which made me smile. One reason is the lovely, somehow stereotyped comparisons and pictures used in this song.
Like old Willie’s guitar, like a neon Lonestar
Just like all my drifting honky tonkin’ friends
Rolling from town to town, we throw it up, we tear it down
Back on the road again by 2am
All those last call late nights, no shows and bar fights
I need you like a tonic to my bottle of gin
You always take my empty cup then you fill it back up
You take my heart and top it off again
Don’t get me wrong – I feel it is really cool 🙂
7. American Soul
The title track of the album is one of these very characteristic US-praising songs at first sight – but it is also encouraging people to value the US values and to work and fight for them. Thus, it just does not feel that pathetic to me.
8. Out Of My Misery
Before you leave me drink all my wine, come steal my covers one last time
Won’t you stay, put me out of my misery
Come wreck my bed and hold me tight, break my heart come morning light
Just give me one more night, tonight have mercy on me
Put me out of my misery
This very fluent and melodic song even gave me some memories of the 1980’s era. It is a beautiful song – one, which I could by the way very well imagine in German mainstream radio as well. Beautiful chorus.
9. Touchdown Town
There just needs to be a song about American Football when you publish an album called American Soul, doesn’t it? I like the way how Watson is describing the emotions around the match event. Nice one.
10. Dog Tags
My heroes wear dog tags – the album closes with a praise to the US troops and their role preserving freedom. I typically simply do not refer that much to these kind of songs, but I really enjoy the way Watson is doing it – and finishes his American Soul in style.
Aaron Watson – American Soul – Spotify
Here is the American Soul Spotify widget:
Aaron Watson – American Soul – My View
When I listened to American Soul the first time, I felt it was rather average – but the more often and the deeper I listen to Aaron Watson songs, the more I recognized that I will have to go for the higher ratings. Finally, after completing my review, I am in the Top Pick! zone. The songs are telling great songs, using a very good and clear (but still picturesque) language and the melodies are good. Did I miss any ingredients to make a good song? Don’t think so. If you pass all exams with a good mark, your final report is simply a good one: very well done, Mr Watson!
Top Pick Country Media Reviews
Here are all country music media reviews, which have been awarded with Top Pick! status:

Laura Cox – Head Above Water
Read More

Richard Lynch – Radio Friend
Read More

Adam Warner – What We’re Known For
Read More

Poppy Fardell – Back On My Feet
Read More

Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver (Various Artists)
Read More

Stephanie Quayle – On The Edge
Read More

Russell Dickerson – Russell Dickerson
Read More

Kenny Foster – Somewhere in Middle America
Read More

Alex Williams – Waging Peace
Read More

Ashley McBryde – Lindeville
Read More

Richard Marx – Songwriter
Read More

Dr. John – Things Happen That Way
Read More

Kelsea Ballerini – Subject To Change
Read More

Kane Brown – Different Man
Read More

Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco
Read More

Jon Pardi – Mr. Saturday Night
Read More

Watkins Family Hour – Vol. 2
Read More

Wade Bowen – Somewhere Between The Secret and The Truth
Read More

Pete Wolf Band – Crosswalk To Nowhere EP
Read More

Brooke Eden – Choosing You EP
Read More

Whiskey Myers – Tornillo
Read More

More Than Words – Today (Make Today Be the Best Day of Your Life)
Read More

Jonny Houlihan – Coffee and Jesus
Read More

Kylie Morgan – P.S. EP
Read More

Luke Combs – Growin’ Up
Read More

The Cumberland River Project – A Smell of Gravy
Read More

Brett Eldredge – Songs About You
Read More

Carrie Underwood – Denim & Rhinestones
Read More

Kyle Daniel – Following the Rain
Read More

Old Crow Medicine Show – Paint This Town
Read More

Joshua Hedley – Neon Blue
Read More

Cole Swindell – Stereotype
Read More

Ann Doka – House of Change
Read More

Ian Noe – River Fools & Mountain Saints
Read More

Tiffany Woys – All About Love EP
Read More

Doug Adkins – A Cowboys’ Life
Read More

Klaus Lage – Je wahrer die Liebe
Read More

Erin Rae – Lighten Up
Read More

Katie Henry – On My Way
Read More

Conner Smith – Didn’t Go Too Far EP
Read More

Noah Guthrie – Blue Wall
Read More

Jacob Bryant – Bar Stool Preacher
Read More

Rachel Bradshaw – Rachel Bradshaw EP
Read More

Carolyn Miller – Thank You EP
Read More

Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP
Read More

Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)
Read More

Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP
Read More

Ryan Hurd – Pelago
Read More

Toby Keith – Peso In My Pocket
Read More

Logan Mize – Welcome To Prairieville
Read More

Billy Strings – Renewal
Read More

Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name
Read More

Charley Crockett – Music City USA
Read More

Peter Maffay – So Weit
Read More

Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman
Read More

Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind
Read More

Jayne Denham – Wanted
Read More

Clare Dunn – In This Kind Of Light EP
Read More

Chris Young – Famous Friends
Read More

Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth
Read More

Jim Lauderdale – Hope
Read More

Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream
Read More

Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee
Read More

Los Lobos – Native Sons
Read More

Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive
Read More

Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP
Read More

The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds
Read More

LANCO – Honky-Tonk Hippies EP
Read More

Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP
Read More

Gary Allan – Ruthless
Read More

Meghan Patrick – Heart On My Glass
Read More

pez – All Lowercase EP
Read More

Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP
Read More

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart
Read More

Black River Delta – Shakin’
Read More

Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia
Read More

Blake Shelton – Body Laguage
Read More

Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground
Read More

Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP
Read More

The Steel Woods – All Of Your Stones
Read More

Emma Moore – the table EP
Read More

Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A
Read More

Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP
Read More

Elvie Shane – County Roads EP
Read More

Eric Church – Soul
Read More

Eric Church – &
Read More

Eric Church – Heart
Read More

Brett Kissel – What Is Life?
Read More

Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times
Read More

Jon Randall – Neon Texas EP
Read More

Canaan Smith – High Country Sound
Read More

Tyler Braden – What Do They Know EP
Read More

Kaylee Bell – The Red EP (EP)
Read More

Hayden Joseph – Different
Read More

Willie Nelson – That’s Life
Read More

Carly Pearce – 29 EP
Read More

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’
Read More

Tobacco Rd Band – Worth Fighting For
Read More

Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP
Read More

Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart
Read More

Willie Jones – Right Now
Read More

Chelsea Berman – Can You Just Not EP
Read More

Petric – Flashbacks
Read More

Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T.
Read More

Cody Weaver – Southern Noise EP
Read More

Russell Dickerson – Southern Symphony
Read More

Granger Smith – Country Things, Vol. 2
Read More

Ward Davis – Black Cats and Crows
Read More

Kameron Marlowe – EP
Read More

Chris Stapleton – Starting Over
Read More

Mira Goto – Nobody Warned Me EP
Read More

Trace Adkins – Ain’t That Kind Of Cowboy EP
Read More

Jason Nix – Money on You EP
Read More

Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas
Read More

Terri Clark – It’s Christmas … Cheers!
Read More

Van de Forst – Unconditional
Read More

Hardy – A Rock
Read More

Lauren Alaina – Getting Over Him EP
Read More

Tennessee Jet – The Country
Read More

Josh Turner – Country State of Mind
Read More

Lindsay Ell – Heart Theory
Read More

Lori McKenna – The Balladeer
Read More

Olivia Lane – “Living Instead” Podcast about Artists’ Life and More
Read More


Jonny Houlihan – Hey Girl EP
Read More


Eric Paslay – Heartbeat Higher EP
Read More


Kyle Nix – Lightning On The Mountain & Other Little Stories
Read More


Gabby Barrett – Goldmine
Read More


Kip Moore – Wild World
Read More


Jaime Wyatt – Neon Cross
Read More


Florida Georgia Line – 6-Pack EP
Read More


Steve Earle & The Dukes – Ghosts of West Virginia
Read More


Travis Denning – Beer’s Better Cold EP
Read More


Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen – Hold My Beer, Vol. 2
Read More


Kenny Chesney – Here and Now
Read More


Hot Country Knights – The K Is Silent
Read More


Tim Dugger – Signs Of A Good Time EP
Read More


Drake White – Stars EP
Read More


The Washboard Union – Everbound
Read More


Twinnie – Hollywood Gypsy
Read More


Julia Cole – Honey Child EP
Read More


Maddie & Tae – The Way It Feels
Read More


Sykamore – California King EP
Read More


Ashley McBryde – Never Will
Read More


Brett James – I am Now EP
Read More


Delta Rae – The Light
Read More


Kelsea Ballerini – Kelsea
Read More


The Shires – Good Years
Read More


Lauren Alaina – Getting Good EP
Read More


The Cumberland River Project – The Cumberland River Project (Album Review)
Read More


Carly Pearce – Carly Pearce
Read More


The Cadillac Three – Country Fuzz
Read More


Richard Marx – Limitless
Read More


Celeste Kellogg – Keep It On Repeat EP
Read More


Redeye Caravan – Nostrum Remedium
Read More


Cody Hibbard – Memory and A Dirt Road
Read More


Little Big Town – Nightfall
Read More


Dustin Lynch – Tullahoma
Read More


Pete Wolf Band – 2084 (Album Review)
Read More


Cassadee Pope – Stages (with Track by Track Commentary)
Read More


Björn Heuser – Kopp voll Dräum (Nashville Recordings)
Read More


Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get (Review)
Read More



Luke Combs – This One’s For You – The Record-Breaking Album
Read More


Miranda Lambert – Wildcard
Read More


Jon Langston – Now You Know EP
Read More


Old Dominion (Album Review)
Read More


Sylvia Aimee – Superhero EP
Read More


Chris Janson – Real Friends
Read More


Chris Knight – Almost Daylight
Read More


Brantley Gilbert – Fire & Brimstone
Read More


Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury
Read More


Sheryl Crow – Threads
Read More


Tanya Tucker – While I’m Livin’
Read More


Tyler Childers – Country Squire
Read More


Willie Nelson – Ride Me Back Home
Read More


Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars
Read More


Lauren Jenkins – No Saint (Album Review)
Read More
All “classic” blog posts
No reviews – just debating and certain topics – these are my “traditional” blog posts in the categories Just blogging, Just blogging on music and Sports Blogging:


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2022
Read More


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2022
Read More


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2022
Read More


How I would love European Flight Compensation Regulation to Change
Read More


Covid-19, Strikes and more – My Flight Rebooking Experience
Read More


Some 2022 new Christmas Song Releases – Good Ones and Weird Ones
Read More


Food I Had Onboard V (September 2022 til November 2022)
Read More


Loyalty Programs – Are We Too Committed To Stay Rational?
Read More


Weird Al Yankovic is touring Europe 2023 – Tour Dates and Travel Hints
Read More


Visiting the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Sites in 2022
Read More


Steel Guitar Santa is Back – The Flyctory.com Country Christmas Playlist 2022
Read More


Rock of Ages – International Dates of the Musical in 2023
Read More


Food I Had Onboard IV (May 2022 til August 2022)
Read More


NHL Schedule 2022-23 released – Some suggested Icehopping Itineraries
Read More


The Bergisch Coffee Table (Bergische Kaffeetafel) – A Sweet and Savory Tradition
Read More


European Airports Go Mad – a Morning at Dusseldorf Airport
Read More


Food I Had Onboard III (Mar 2022 til April 2022)
Read More


Currently my favorite animal: Leon The Lobster
Read More


Food I Had Onboard II (Nov 21 til Mar 2022)
Read More


No Business as Usual – but I felt it is right to continue to share the World with you…
Read More


Beijing 2022 – No Flyctory.com Medal Count, Just Thoughts…
Read More


Riding the Swan Adventure Pedal Boat in Dubai – A Special Ride and Posting
Read More


Rock of Ages – Central European Shows of my Favorite Musical in 2022
Read More


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2021
Read More


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2021
Read More


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2021
Read More


Some Non-Country Christmas Songs 2021
Read More


My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts
Read More


Ho Ho Ho – The Flyctory.com Country Christmas Playlist 2021
Read More


Food I Had Onboard (Oct 2021 til Nov 2021)
Read More


The Hits of the Trips – My Summer 2021 in Music
Read More


My Hotel Checklist – Some Services Too Many Overnights are still failing at
Read More


Tokyo 2020 – My Thoughts By Sports (… and some more)
Read More


The Flyctory.com-Style Medal Count of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics
Read More


Some weird sports I discovered during Covid-19
Read More


The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)
Read More


Music Publications – Does Nowadays The Length Still Matter?
Read More


Smooth McGroove – A Very Special Kind of Gaming Music
Read More


Jan-Marten Block is the German Idol – Some Thoughts After a Strange Season
Read More


Bricky Trouble over Germany
Read More


Cologne – My Ten Favorite Songs About My Home Town
Read More


(Over) 400 Media Reviews on Flyctory.com – your most popular ones
Read More


The Dutch Museumkaart – One Year of Culture and History (almost) for free in the Netherlands
Read More


Understanding Train Station – A Podcast on Living Abroad and Cultural Differences
Read More


Dubai – A December 2020 Pandemic Disappointment
Read More


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2020
Read More


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Albums / EPs 2020
Read More


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2020
Read More


“Zärtliche Chaoten II” – exploring Gran Canaria 32 years later
Read More


My Ten Favorite Weird Al Yankovic Songs
Read More


My First PCR Test (Centogene Dusseldorf Airport)
Read More


Seven Things I look forward to do in the United States again
Read More


Some Christmas Present Ideas for Flyctory.com Music Lovers
Read More


Hawk-Eye Live – the End of the Tennis Line Judges?
Read More


The Country Music Week turns Digital
Read More


One Year of Flyctory.com Country Music Playlists
Read More


The Big Three of Tennis Men Singles – Unique Dominance?
Read More


German Girl in America – YouTube Videos about US-German Differences
Read More


Nashville, Let the Girls Play – Some Thoughts on Women Country Music
Read More



Olivia Lane – “Living Instead” Podcast about Artists’ Life and More
Read More


“Lady Antebellum” becomes “Lady A” – My Thoughts
Read More


Lake Constance after the touristic Lockdown – My Experience
Read More


Women Soccer Bundesliga is back – But some Girls score in a different Way
Read More


Mrs. Greenbird: Strong Crowdfunding Start for New Album
Read More


Back To Soccer-Country: Germany
Read More


Kenny Foster – His Stories behind “Deep Cuts”
Read More


Flyctory.com vs. Covid-19 – An unequal battle
Read More


Two new Flyctory.com-managed Playlists on Amazon Music and Spotify
Read More


Made in Bolka – About the Rise of a Floorball Club
Read More


My Favorite C2C: Country To Country 2020 Songs
Read More


Why I feel it makes sense to continue Flyctory.com during the Corona crisis
Read More


C2C Country To Country Berlin – Day 3 (08.03.2020) – Splitter
Read More


C2C Country To Country Berlin – Day 2 (07.03.2020) – Splitter
Read More


C2C Country To Country Berlin – Day 1 (06.03.2020) – Splitter
Read More


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2019
Read More


Christmas Songs – Why not Hawaiian Style?
Read More


My Favorite Music Albums 2019
Read More


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2019
Read More


No Women WFC 2019 Coverage on Flyctory.com?
Read More


Flyctory.com – My Postings on a Map
Read More



Luke Combs – This One’s For You – The Record-Breaking Album
Read More


Frog Leap – An Amazing Project Back On Tour 2020
Read More


The Flyctory.com Country Music Playlists – The First Ten Weeks
Read More


Country 2 Country 2020 Lineup – My View
Read More


Sound of Nashville Press Event & Logan Mize Concert (11th Sep 2019, Cologne)
Read More


Flyctory.com on Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited
Read More


A Preview to Country Music Concerts (European Tours)
Read More


Very Important Postings – January to June 2019
Read More


CMA Fest 2019 – My Meet & Greets
Read More


Visiting CMA Fest 2019
Read More


My Favorite CMA Fest Songs 2019
Read More


Christina Taylor & Carolyn Miller – Two Upcoming Country Artists
Read More


CMA Fest 2019 – Fan Events with Cassadee Pope and Jana Kramer
Read More


Country Music Concert Summer 2019 in Germany – a small Boom?
Read More


Shallow-ism – One Song in countless Versions
Read More


My Favorite Country 2 Country Songs 2019
Read More


European World Floorball Championship Qualification – A Preview
Read More


Entertaining or not? An Inflight Magazine Comparison
Read More


Floorball Champions Cup 2019 – A Preview to Gävle
Read More


Very Important Postings – July to December 2018
Read More


My Favorite Songs 2018
Read More


How to buy a Hotel Group Status
Read More


Davis Cup World Group Playoff 2018 – More complex than ever!
Read More


Very Important Postings – Flyctory.com’s 1st Half 2018
Read More


Flyctory.com’s Introduction on Mileage Pooling
Read More


Atlanta 1996 – 22 Years later
Read More


Ode to my Superhero – Leander Paes
Read More


My favourite Country 2 Country 2018 songs
Read More


My Medal Count Winner 2018: Canada
Read More


Why WordPress?
Read More