Ray Wylie Hubbard - Reel 2 Reel 4 Real (CD)

It's no disrespect to the man to not believe, in part or in whole, every word that Ray Wylie Hubbard writes, sings, or speaks - and frankly, he'd probably respect you a little less if you did. As celebrated songwriters of the outlaw poet/down-home-country-blues persuasion go, Hubbard's credibility is unimpeachable. And to be fair, even as a somewhat notorious raconteur, his overall truthiness is a lot more bankable than your average politician or fundamentalist grifter. But fold your cards every time he goes all in across a table from you, or swallow as fact every nugget of wisdom he sharpens into verse or stretches into a yarn without catching the gleam in his eye or wry tell between the lines, and odds are you've been played. But honestly, that's all just part of what makes Hubbard so damn fun. No matter how many awards and Hall of Fame inductions others might honor him with (he's a member of both the Austin Music HOF and the Texas Heritage Songwriters HOF), Hubbard never swaggers or sings his own praises without keeping his tongue planted firmly in cheek. But after brushing aside his bluff with a chuckle, Hubbard gets real. "I am very proud of it," he answers sincerely. "Everybody that played on it put a lot of work into it, and it just felt right doing it. I'm very grateful."

1. Cassette Mix Tape
2. El Diablo Esta Ganando
3. A Murder of Crows
4. Look What the Cat Drug In
5. Dog or Wolf
6. Tip Your Hat to the Black Crow
7. Gods Playing Poker
8. Cobwebs
9. She Plays "Crazy Mama"
10. The Night