"Cheap Bourbon Whiskey and pearl snap shirts are two things that stay the same, so when the world starts spinnin' and your head hurts, there's cheap bourbon whiskey and pearl snap shirts." That is how the title songs starts, and trust me this is the CD OF THE YEAR! After reading all the reviews, I decided I would take a chance and buy a Jason Boland CD. I must admit, that Johnny Hambone guy is right (and I HATE to admit that) this is truly the best CD purchase I have made this year. The CD starts out with "Somewhere Down in Texas" which has Terri Hendrix singing harmony and quite frankly is my new favorite song. Just when you think this may be a mellow album we go straight into some good old fashinoned Honky Tonkin'. The songs, "Drinkin' Song" and "Pearl Snaps" really drive the message home. After that the album goes back into introspective mode with "Proud Souls" (I love the line "I got drunk by myself last night, they say it's no way to make things right, I just didn't have anything better to do.") and follows that with the buttkicking "Ponies". The CD then goes back to introspective, and trust me these are WELL WRITTEN songs, with "Backslider Blues". The album then takes a strange turn with a song about long distance love over the phone (some might call it phone sex, but I like to think otherwise) which may be the weakest track on the CD, but Boland's weakest track would be one of the best for most artists on this site. It doesn't matter because what follows is my other favorite song (After thinking about it it ranks up there with "Somewhere Down in Texas"), "Devil Pays in Gold". If you like REK's "The Road Goes on Forever" (even though we are all tired of it by now) this will be your new favorite song. Nothing beats a good story where someone is going to get killed or be killed trying, and these boys make the story come alive. Next track is "If I ever get back to Oklahoma", which means little to me being from South Texas doncha know, but I admit is a catchy song, and if I were from Oklahoma I would buy this CD just on this song alone (If you are from Oklahoma and have any pride at all this is a MUST LISTEN). The last two tunes listed are going to leave you wanting more. "No Damn Good" is a tale of the road and the single life outweighing suburbia, and "Change in the Weather" is a fun song which really showcases the dobro playing of Roger Ray, who I must say is quite the talented musician. He plays lead and rythm guitar, pedal steel, and of course that awesome dobro. If his dobro and steel playing (Since Lloyd Maines produced this album, I thought I was listening to Lloyd Maines playing steel until I saw the credits. Roger Ray is going to be getting a lot of work whether this band stays together or not) don't get you, just listen to the bonus track. Roger Ray's lead guitar is brilliant, and if this is a one take, which bonus tracks traditionally are, then Brian Setzer needs to watch out, cause this up and comer from Oklahoma will BLOW YOU AWAY, he freakin' wails! This CD contains 12 (counting the bonus track) of the most polished songs I have listened to all year. Do yourself a favor and get "Pearl Snaps", after one listen you'll be writing a 5 Star review, TRUST ME.

If you think Roger Creager, Owen Temple, Cory Morrow, or even Pat Green is good, you better buy this CD. Jason Boland and the Stragglers are simply the best thing to come out of Oklahoma since I-35!!!!

This album is a fresh alternative to the stale, pop-like, top 40 refuse played on the radio. Jason Boland is a songwriter who puts soul and raw emotion into his songs, such as "Proud Souls" and "Backslider Blues", yet also manages to pull out some old honky tonk sing along songs such as "Pearl Snaps". This CD is a must have for all fans of Americana music.

This album is a fresh alternative to the stale, pop-like, top 40 refuse played on the radio. Jason Boland is a songwriter who puts soul and raw emotion into his songs, such as "Proud Souls" and "Backslider Blues", yet also manages to pull out some old honky tonk sing along songs such as "Pearl Snaps". This CD is a must have for all fans of American music.