The Picketts
Euphonium (Rounder) (star) (star) 1/2
BR5-49
BR5-49 (Arista) (star) (star) 1/2
Singer-songwriter Christy McWilson is a force to be reckoned with on the Picketts’ affecting collection of alterna-country songs, which could inspire line dancers to join the mosh pit. Bending genre borders, McWilson combines traditional C&W, rockabilly and punk in a mostly entertaining package. But, what are the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” and the Clash’s in-your-face “Should I Stay or Should I Go” doing here? Nashville honky-tonk upstarts BR5-49, on the other hand, revel in their old-fashioned approach to standards and decent originals. Don Herron’s pedal steel gets a good workout, while Gary Bennett’s vocals do justice to songs recorded by Mel Tillis, Gram Parsons, Webb Pierce, Johnny Horton and Patsy Cline.