Blue collar, redneck, rural Alberta roots… that’s the sound of Tim Hus. It’s an edgy mix of oil fields, logging roads, rodeos and semi trucks, with the unmistakable influence of the Canadian Treasure Stompin’ Tom Connors, and it’s as Canadian as Kokanee beer.

One of the great tracks here is Hurtin’ Albertan written by Corb Lund and Tim Hus. There’s an interesting twist though. On Corb’s version, he does the singing and Tim does the C.W. McColl-style CB commentary aid; in Tim’s version they switch roles. I can’t say which one is better. Saddle Bronc Ride features a great acoustic guitar bridge played by Allen Christie, and I had to replay the track just so I could hear it again.

Baxter Black has often described the romantic image of women wearing chaps, but Tim’s description of an Alberta gal driving a D9 Cat on a pipeline job is pure hardhat romance in the song Pipeline, and Danny Mack’s distinctive Canadian Cowboy is a natural for this collection. The arrangements for the most part feature a driving beat, big electric guitar sound and lots of rhythm.

Darn good listening, especially if you’re rolling down the open road. The track Train Robbers is my favourite. It’s pretty much acoustic and features Myron Szott’s Olde West fiddle, some great banjo from Craig Korth, supported by a flat-picking guitar and sweet dobro. Now when you get this collection, don’t shut it off at the end of track 12. Let it run, and you’ll hear Tim and an acoustic guitar with an amazing story about identity theft. Could there really be two Tim Hus’ in the world?


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