★★★½
Henry Wagons has developed a cult of personality. He gets by with the kind of laconic humour and textbook-clever lyrics that have served the likes of Dave Graney and David McCormack for years – although he’s a little more country than rock’n’roll.
You’re drawn in on the basis that you want to tear a coaster and shoot the shit with him. That’s not to negate the songs, of course – particularly on this, his second album under his own name following his duets suite, Expecting Company? Wagons is all bar-room waltzing and self-deprecation here, turning in some of his most fun and formidable tracks to date. ‘Cold Burger, Cold Fries’ is a modern-day ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’, complete with regret food and Cash-like baritone.
‘King Hit’ takes cues from the standard ‘Sixteen Tons’ and reflects on the late-night violence that is (supposedly) becoming an epidemic. Elsewhere, ‘Only Sane Motherfucker’ is a bluesy shuffle-and-stomp that packs considerable wallop, and ‘Head Or Heart’ is an ethical dilemma in which Wagons resolves to “see [his] doctor and get ’em both removed”. Yikes.
He might regret it in the morning, but Wagons is living for the moment on this fun alt-country outing. Perhaps you should join him.
After What I Did Last Night… byHenry Wagonsis out now on ABC.
