While mainstream country awaits the release of Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now album to ‘start’ 2010 with official new releases, the ‘alternative’ side of the country coin is already at work with fine new releases coming this week from artists like Ray Wylie Hubbard and Rilo Kiley member Jason Boesel.  Boesel, who was most recently behind the drum kit in Conor Oberst’s Mystic Valley Band finally release his own record after his friends encouraged him to do so.  That first song “Hustler’s Son” ended up being the title track to his debut album. 

Hustler’s Son is a nice mixture of imagery that recalls classic country-rock with a little indie rock grit thrown in (it’d have to be there after all the work he’s done in that scene).  “French Kissing” rolls along like a long-lost Eagles track while the title track recalls some great Willie Nelson songs of the past (As if sung by Chris Martin of Coldplay).  Other standout tracks on this strong debut include “I Got The Reason #1” and “the closing “Winking Eyes.” 

While the record may not be for everyone, Hustler’s Son is the kind of album that shows off a great talent in Jason Boesel, one who has the ability to write tunes that are vivid in their imagery and strong in their musicianship.   With guests like Benmont Tench (one of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers), David Rawlings, and other indie scenesters like Band of Horses’ Blake Mills and Jonathan Wilson.

You can support Jason Boesel by purchasing this album at Amazon | iTunes.