Ridin the Hi-Line
Think the singing cowboy is a phenomenon of the 20th century? Well, Wylie Gustafson and his band the Wild West have a surprise for you. Unfocused in their days as an alt-country act, Gustafson and his vibrant little outfit found their calling on 1998'sTotal Yodel!If this triumphant, mature follow-up oozes authenticity, rest assured, Gustafson is no cowboy-obsessed suburban kid. He grew up on a Montana ranch and runs his own in Washington State, living an authentic Western life others fantasize about. He proudly proclaims his anachronistic nature in "Yodeling Cowhand," one of 13 originals showcasing his crystal clear voice, with its echoes of the lateHank Snow. The title song (a duet with real-life singing cowgirlJoni Harms) is a success, as is "Down the Trail," with its rich vistas that can only come from living in Big Sky country. Years of line dancers perverting the term "boogie" are swept away with the light rockabilly-swing of "Jitterbug Boogie," and the band's stomping take on the traditional "Buffalo Gals" is, like the rest, far too real for country radio.--Rich Kienzle