*** Dale Watson

I HATE THESE SONGS

(Hightone)

So Dale Watson hates his own songs -- 14 of them, all penned by the Austin-based singer/songwriter/guitarist for his third album in three years. And what does Watson like? "I love real country music, I love Texas, and I love my Momma," he sings without a whit of irony on the Merle Haggard-esque "That's Pride."

Like the rest of the disc's tracks, which include honky-tonk shuffles ("Wine Don't Lie"), country weepers ("I Think of You"), truckin' tunes ("Hey Driver"), and doses of Western swing ("Leave Me Alone") and Tex-Mex ("Count on You"), "That's Pride" finds Watson honing an earnest, no-bullshit approach so steeped in the roadhouse tradition you can almost hear the buzz of a neon beer sign. Watson certainly wears his hearty influences (Merle, George, and Lefty) on his denim sleeve. But backed by a lean band who put the steel guitar front and center, he comes across more as an heir to his heroes than as an imitator.

-- Chris Erikson

(Dale Watson plays Johnny D's next Thursday, September 18; call 776-2004.)