As the lines that separate musical genres become increasingly blurred, it’s heartening that some artists stick to their core sound. One such purist is country singer Jon Pardi who, since releasing his debut album in 2014, has weaved himself into country music’s rich tapestry. Studio album number five finds Jon teaming up with renowned producer Jay Joyce to deliver his most mature work yet. Featuring seventeen neotraditionalist country corkers, Honkytonk Hollywood finds Jon Pardi coming of age, and in some style.

Ever since Thin Lizzy started infusing their hard rock with shades of country, there has always been a crossover between the two genres and that means the average Midlands Rock reader will find much to admire on Honkytonk Hollywood, and no more so than on spurs-clicking opener ‘Boots Off’. Swap Jon’s Southern drawl for Rod Stewart’s screech and this could easily be The Faces tearing things up. Whatever your preferred style of music there’s no denying the life-affirming quality of ‘Boots Off’, and is guaranteed to get all but the frail and infirm up and strutting their stuff. Whilst Pardi might be operating within certain self-imposed parameters, he certainly hasn’t painted himself in a corner and his sound is far from generic. Take the following ‘Friday Night Heartbreaker’ for example; it’s underpinned by a beat that ululates in a reggae/ska type of way. Yet, it’s without sacrificing his core sound and is merely another colour pulled from a wide palette, but make no mistake this is undoubtedly a country album and the likes of ‘She Gets To Drinking’ couldn’t be anything but and those purists who form his core fanbase will find a spiritual home here.

Good country is often more than just music. When combined properly, lyrics and music become very cinematic and that’s precisely what Honkytonk Hollywood brings to the table. Cuts such as ‘She Drives Away’ are like mini movies and will implant strong images in your mind’s eye. The characters who inhabit these songs become three-dimensional and their trials and tribulations play out against a vista of small towns and dive bars. It’s a hard craft to master without becoming pastiche, it’s something Springsteen had, so did Dylan, and now you can add the pen of Pardi to that illustrious list. Clocking in at one hour, Honkytonk Hollywood is longer than your average album but because each of these songs has its own unique feel, it never seems elongated or fussy. As such, this is an album best consumed whole to fully appreciate all of its facets, from the punchy ‘Hard Knocks’ to sublime closer ‘Kinda Wanna Keep It That Way’, it demands you buckle up for a bumpy ride.

Here’s your first class ticket to Honkytonk Hollywood!

• Honkytonk Hollywood is released via Snakefarm/Capitol Nashville on 11th April 2025.
• Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube Channel

Track List:

1. Boots Off
2. Friday Night Heartbreaker
3. She Gets To Drinking
4. Gamblin’ Man
5. Hey California
6. Rush
7. She Drives Away
8. He Went To Work
9. Last Call Thing
10. Honkytonk Hollywood
11. Love The Lights Out
12. Nice Place To Visit
13. Hard Knocks
14. Don’t You Wanna Know
15. Bar Room Blue
16. Who I Don’t Wanna Be
17. Kinda Wanna Keep It That Way