0543. Joe Ely
Honky Tonk Masquerade

Dämmit! This is the exact style of country I just can't stand. It's formulaic, soulless and sung as if thinking about the supper after the session's done.
Kinda proves the point that just because you name the album something with Honky Tonk it doesn't automagically get to be Honky Tonk.

No matter how hard 1001 Albums You Must Hear tries to spin this as alt-country, all I'm hearing is Swedish dansband music. For a better definition, check out yesterday's album: Time (The Revelator).

However, proving that (almost) all musicians, if active long enough, can accomplish one good track, Ely's managed to include just that on the album: one good track.
Cause in Boxcars he actually manages to sound like he almost cares about the lyrics and the music. Ironically this is of course isn't written by Ely, but by former band mate Butch Hancock.