Sings Waylon for Jessica

In the ‘90s Jay Berndt made his name as the vocalist for Kilgore, a Rhode Island outfit that stood out thanks to its solid command of hardcore dynamics and surprisingly intelligent lyrics. Almost a decade after Kilgore’s dissolution, Berndt embarked on an idiosyncratic solo career with Sad Bastard Songs, an accomplished album of traditionalist Americana that owed more to Willie Nelson than Faith No More. Berndt made his debt to classic outlaw country even more evident on his followup, the Waylon Jennings tribute Jay Berndt Covers Waylon for Jessica. Tackling Waylon is an intimidating prospect for any artist, and it’s a testament to Berndt’s talent and sensitivity that Sings Waylon comes off as well as it does. Berndt succeeds thanks to his formidable pipes and his wisdom in refusing to tamper with Jennings’ spare honky-tonk–ready arrangements. His grunge roots occasionally show, as when he slips into an alt-rock growl on “Lonesome, On’ry & Mean” or lets a few crashing power chords disturb the equilibrium of “Freedom to Stay.”