Hillbilly Road

Although he's perennially at the top of the Australian country music scene, John Williamson is nearly unknown in the larger American country scene. Though the content changes a bit (sheep shearing is a common theme rather than horse riding), the sound is strikingly similar to an American country star of past decades. Williamson's sound is by and large in a strong John Denver vein (just listen to "Drink a Little Love"), with an optimistic, warm sound, and a fairly natural guitar tone. A few Aboriginal sounds creep into the mix from time to time, but seem to stand in comfortably and naturally, rather than as an afterthought or a simple nod to the outback that Williamson calls home. The music is simple and warm, built with a touch of timelessness that's almost intentional, but not quite to the degree that it can be called out. It's a fine album, and has just enough vocal goodness to pull in a few listeners from outside of the country realm.