MUTINY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

Before you mutter the two words ‘country music’ – add these 5 words to that train of thought; disco, rock, saxophone, boogie and basslines. Now relax, pour yourself a blood orange mezcal margarita and cue up Mutiny After Midnight – the new record from Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds.

I just want to get this out of the way. I don’t “know” country music nor do I have any interest in country music.

“Johnny Blue Skies” is the alias of musician Sturgill Simpson, a country artist who I was completely unaware of until I looked him up after seeing the album artwork and knowing that I need to hear whatever this was. Shiny disco balls and drippy blood seem to have that kind of effect.

After a little research, evidently the only way to hear the album was to buy the physical release on vinyl, CD or cassette! That’s right, NO STREAMING PLATFORMS. At this point my intrigue shot through the roof because in our current attention-deficit, streaming world of sometimes convenience over quality — this was a promising and refreshingly different thing to hear. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I for one could benefit from getting off the gluttony of devices and enjoy some newly released music by the intimate limitations of strictly my living room. So I ordered the record and it arrived yesterday. I’ve been playing it all week and am happy to report that it’s a fun ride.

Rather than doing a track-by-track album review — because getting off the computer and hearing it is all that people should do — Uncle T has a quick list of thoughts that came to mind when listening to Mutiny After Midnight.

#1 Wade Garrett!

I’ve come to a crossroads in life where I find myself wandering aimlessly and asking, What Would Wade Do? (WWWD). It’s during these pivotal moments that I summon the spirit of the best cooler in the business. The sandy mulleted, warrior of the wind who looks down on us from heaven while he guzzles Miller Genuine Drafts and shows his silver happy trail to the angels above. WADE GARRETT.

While listening to this album I can’t help but think that Wade Garrett would absolutely CHERISH these songs. This music feels like it was born for black jeans, cigarettes and traveling the dusty highway, looking for the next watering hole to beat up some “bad elements”. Even as a seasoned ‘vet, Wade Garrett could stay up drinking warm beers until sunrise with still enough energy to provide some horny small talk. Additionally the lyrics are textbook Wade. “You look as fine as a hundred ninety-nine tooth comb…Want you to keep me up until the cows come home.”

#2 Little River Band – The Night Owls!

The bygone era of country-tinged, ’70s rock that Johnny Blue Skies conjures up on this album reminds me of this absolute slab of gold from Little River Band. With all due respect to Johnny’s vocal performance in his songs, I sort of wish he dropped some of the country twang in place of a smoother, less buried approach. Just listen to the mystical crooning in “The Night Owls” and tell me it doesn’t make you want to shuffle your snakeskin boots across the nearest dancefloor while wearing a pair of blue pleated trousers.

#3 Wood-paneled Bars, Lounges and Bowling Alleys!

I was recently hanging out in a 1953 “candlepin” bowling alley which is still in operation and by the looks of it, hasn’t changed one iota since 1953. The wood paneled walls, ashtrays, creaky floors, carpeted steps, wooden ball return and NO electronic scoring (paper and pencil only)! The place defined the word charm. These places are sadly dying off but really need to be preserved. I believe this is was the same sort of magic Johnny Blue Skies and the Dark Clouds tapped into with this record. Lounges, cocktail bars and bowling alleys with dark interiors. Moody lighting. Avocado-green tables. Brass railings. A bowl of peanuts. Cash only. The jukebox still works. Leather booths so cozy that you could fall asleep/pass out in.

#4 Honky Tonk House Bands!

Lastly, if I didn’t know and had to guess who made this music, I would say it was one of those honky-tonk house bands from bar scenes in so many movies. Everyone knows what I’m talking about. The bearded singer with the aviators, the guitarist with a moustache bigger than Texas, the shirtless drummer sweating out beer and the black bassist wearing a purple bandana. The dancefloor in front of the stage is always full of smiling people getting down…to everything from boogie-rocking numbers to a tender tune for a slow dance. *Watch the video above!