3 of the Best Songs on Charley Crockett’s New Album ‘$10 Cowboy: Visions of Dallas’

On July 22, Charley Crockett continued his climb as one of the staple figures of the Americana genre with the release of his new album, $10 Cowboy: Visions of Dallas. The album is the second part of $10 Cowboy and includes solely original material. This comes as a surprise from Crockett given that the two albums he releases every year consist of one cover album and the other original.

With double the Crockett we’ve seen in recent years, it’s hard to decide the best songs on his new album. Here is a list of three of his top tracks to help you narrow down your list.

1. Killers of The Flower Moon

‘Killers of The Flower Moon’ is just a song we really don’t hear too often anymore. A harrowing ballad about the Osage Indians in Oklahoma, Crockett utilizes his skills both as a storyteller and musician to create a song that not only sheds light on a tragedy but also revives the sub-genre of the Western ballad.

If you come around here/ With pretty flowers to sow/ You might stop and notice/ nobody’s very old, is just one of the lines that illuminate his exemplary songwriting. Furthermore, this and many other lines are all paired with Western country music elements that make the song seem like it was made in the time in which it takes place.

All in all, it’s not something that is entirely new; rather, it is a near-perfect song of a lost and storied genre that used to be a frequent occurrence in country music.

2. Goodbye Holly

From its acapella introduction, ‘Goodbye Holly’ has a lovely combination of country and bluegrass elements that perfectly complement one another. A smooth listen with simple lyrics, ‘Goodbye Holly’ is the last song on Crockett’s 12-track album.

By placing it last, Crockett not only allows the listener to prepare to sign off on their listening experience but also closes out the story he’s been telling the whole time. A rhythmic chant that will definitely be a crowd-favorite sing-along whenever he tours.

3. How Low Can You Go

A culmination of his Dallas and New Orleans influences, ‘How Low Can You Go’ is a bluesy, jazzy, country music piece that incorporates a variety of elements like a finely woven basket. From the lead guitar riffs to the changing baselines, the percussion, and the piano solos, it is impossible to place this song into one lone genre.

Other than the fact that this will surely have folks on their feet, it also reminds people just how versatile of an artist Crockett is. When it comes to ‘How Low Can You Go,’ Crockett’s taste and style are allusive and nimble and will never cease to amaze his fans. Like the card-playing gamblers in his songs, the man always has an ace up his sleeve.

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