Shooter Jennings: Shooter

As the progeny of country music royalty—his dad is the legendary Waylon Jennings; his mom, ‘70s hit maker Jessi Colter—it’s no big surprise that Shooter Jennings has spent the last couple of decades making sure everyone knows he has interests far beyond twang. He moved to Los Angeles, formed a rock band, played his dad in a movie, collaborated with author Stephen King, dabbled in spoken word and released a tribute album to electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder.

He made country music and roots-rock along the way, too, most notably his 2005 debut, Put the “O” Back in Country, produced by a young Dave Cobb, who is now the most in-demand producer in Nashville, thanks to his work on records by Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton. Cobb and Jennings also co-produced Brandi Carlile’s most recent album By the Way, I Forgive You, probably her best yet.

The point is: Cobb and Jennings make good roots music together, and they were working on Carlile’s record when they had the idea to record another straightforward country album. That record is called, simply, Shooter, and it’s a collection of rollicking good-times jams and mixed-bag ballads. It’s also a reminder of how good Jennings can be when he focuses his efforts where his strengths lie.

For example: bruising, brawling, blues-rock barnburners like opening track “Bound Ta Git Down,” which moves at punk speed, features a swaggering horn section and references Guns N’ Roses and Marilyn Manson. “Make Hank proud,” Jennings sings in the chorus. “Get drunk! Get loud!” He sounds like a man in his natural habitat.