By Joshua Wallace
If you want an album that is 100% Grade A certified classic country in 2019, look no further than Vincent Neil Emerson’s debut record called Fried Chicken & Evil Women. This record hits all the notes of what you would want in a classic country album. Smooth country crooning, nice pedal steel, honky tonk piano, it’s all there. This 27 year old from East Texas has put together the complete package. There isn’t a bad track on this record. Let’s take a dive into it.
The first highlight here is a great piece of song writing called “Willie Nelson’s Wall”. It starts out with an amazing pedal steel riff and I love the opening line “I’m as high as a fly on Willie Nelson’s wall”. It’s a great upbeat song about being high. Another highlight is the title track “Fried Chicken & Evil Women”. The pedal steel and honky tonk guitar are thick on this track, as it is on most of this album.
“Dade County Jail” starts off with some piano chords that will make you think you’re back in church. But in reality, the song is a slow blues track about waking up in jail. I love the acoustic guitar solo on this one. Some really good songwriting here. Finally, “Highway Shine” kicks off with some simple acoustic picking and great crooning from Vincent till the full band kicks in. It’s a smooth track about wanderlust that closes out the album. There’s some more great solo work on this track and I love the shout out to Billy Joe Shaver.
Vincent Neil Emerson has released an impressive debut album with Fried Chicken & Evil Women. In fact, this is one of the most country albums you will find in 2019. The playing and songwriting are top notch throughout and I cannot wait to see where this takes Vincent. I hope to be able to see him live one day. Fried Chicken & Evil Women is available everywhere you can find good country music as of Friday September 13th, 2019.
Favorite Tracks : Willie Nelson’s Wall, Fried Chicken & Women, Dade County Jail, Highway Shine
Vincent Neil Emerson – Fried Chicken & Evil Women (2019)
- 25 & Wastin’ Time
- Willie Nelson’s Wall
- Fried Chicken & Evil Women
- The Bad Side Of Luck
- Cactus Blossom Special
- 7 Come 11
- Devil In My Bed
- Letters On The Marquee
- Dade County Jail
- Highway Shine