Charley Crockett- Age of the Ram
Label: Island
Producers: Charley Crockett and Shooter Jennings
Age of the Ram represents the final chapter in what is being dubbed as the Sagebrush Trilogy, a series of albums Charley Crockett has crafted and produced with Shooter Jennings, and that began with last year’s excellent twofer of Lonesome Drifter and Dollar A Day. Given this chronological connection, Age of the Ram naturally finds itself deeply rooted in the same classic C&W themes of cowboy outlaws, while sprinkling it with the signature genre-blending that has defined the expansive discography that Crockett has produced over the past decade. In fact, Crockett and Jennings double down so much on these themes for this grand finale that this album actually serves as an old-school cowboy concept album, telling the story of fictional cowboy Billy McLane, who was the central character to Marty Robbins’ 1963 song, “Old Red”. Initially, it feels a bit strange that Ram takes on the format of a formal concept record when neither Drifter nor Dollar A Day did so. But as the opening sequence, complete with classic cinematic sound effects, tells us, this is the feature presentation of the chronology, with the two preceding records basically serving as merely the short-film appetizers, though both undoubtedly thrilling and substantive on their own merits.
It’s also unquestionably bold for Crockett to resurrect a character from a song by Marty Robbins–inarguably the all-time great in terms of the cinematic Country & Western storytelling–as a launching point for his own canon. But Crockett has long since proven the worthiness of his voice, his musical talent, and creative vision to make such a staggering overture. Very few of his contemporaries would even have the gumption to try a C&W concept album in today’s landscape, and if they did, they’d surely be relying upon cover material to do so. Crockett on the other hand only employs a handful of outside cuts to make up Ram’s story; Jimmy Buffett’s “Rancho Deluxe”, Billy Joe Shaver’s “Low Down Freedom”, Nico Fidenco’s “Border Winds”, and Eddy Raven/Waylon Jennings’ “Sweet Mother Texas”. The remaining sixteen tracks all come from Crockett’s own modern pen, and the fact that they all reside naturally amongst these selections and just as dutifully bring the spiritual ethos of the intended theme to life so vividly is another grand testament to Charley Crockett’s magnificent stylistic gifts. Only Sturgill Simpson with 2021’s The Ballad of Dood & Juanita has pulled this off within this current generation.
Like all truly successful concept albums, this LP is best experienced as a total package from beginning to end. But also like the truly great concept albums, there are still landmark songs that stand out on their own, with the potential to become individual classics in their own regard. Among those plentiful candidates and highlights, you will find lead single “Kentucky Too Long”, “Lonesome Dove”, “My Last Drink of Wine”, “Fastest Gun Alive”, “Me & Shooter”, “Cover My Trail Tonight”, and of course, “Billy McLane”. As always, Crockett’s iconic baritone colors all of these fascinating narratives with the kind of vigor, character, and sly storytelling nuance that are essential ingredients to both this fabled style, and his artistic identity as a whole. The musical imagery, timeless style, and subtle movie-screen novelties of the production is just as a seamless in its entertainment value and anecdotal gravitas.
Everything about The Age of the Ram just clicks. It is indeed the satisfying box-office, main-event finale to Charley Crockett’s and Shooter Jennings’ collaborative arc together, while vibrantly and cohesively elevating the impact and merits of the two preceding albums in the series as well. Crockett remains one of the premier torch-bearers for the classic styles and trends of roots music’s storied past, in terms of their timeless relevance, but also their ability to be given powerful and thrilling new significance in a more modern and grossly synthetic era. His union with Jennings has only found new and exciting ways to continue his creative mission, and it’s a partnership that will now have a enthralling legacy tied to it by way of The Sagebrush Trilogy. I highly recommend you devote a few hours to shutting the world out, spinning all three of these albums, and losing yourself in the fascinating, throwback magic and escapism that they will surely elicit, not only for roots music aficionados, but for all music lovers in general.
Track Listing:
- “Life & Times of Billy McLane (Theme I)” (Charley Crockett)
- “Lonesome Dove” (Crockett)
- “Rancho Deluxe (Main Theme)” (Jimmy Buffett)
- “My Last Drink of Wine” (Crockett)
- “Fastest Gun Alive” (Crockett, Kyle Madrigal)
- “Diamond Belle (Country Boy)” (Crockett)
- “I Shot Jesse James” (Crockett, Shooter Jennings, Taylor Grace)
- “Life & Times of Billy McLane (Theme II)” (Crockett)
- “Crazy Women Ridge” (Crockett)
- “Remembering Pat” (Crockett)
- “Sweet Mother Texas” (Eddy Raven, Sanger D. Shafer)
- “Kentucky Too Long” (Crockett)
- “Border Winds” (Nico Fidenco)
- “Rancho Deluxe (End Theme)” (Buffett)
- “Billy McLane” (Crockett)
- “Life & Times of Billy McLane” (Theme III)” (Crockett)
- “Powder River” (Crockett)
- “Low Down Freedom” (Billy Joe Shaver)
- “Me & Shooter” (Crockett)
- “Cover My Trail Tonight” (Crockett, Madrigal, Fidenco)
The 706 
Leave a comment