Country Mike Blog

Wisconsin Country Outlaw

Mike Sudhalter  |  February 25, 2010

Country newcomer Josh Thompson
has a sound that could
be described as new outlaw

Josh Thompson is one of the few country singers to emerge from the great state of Wisconsin, which is better known for Polka Music, dairy products and sports fans who either love Brett Favre for what he did as a Green Bay Packer or despise him for suiting up with the rival, Minnesota Vikings.

Country music fans in Wisconsin? You betcha. But artists? Not as much.

Rest assured, Wisconsin. Thompson is a singer that all Cheeseheads from St. Croix Falls to Oshkosh can be proud of.

His debut album came out on Tuesday, and Thompson proves to be in the same group of country singers as Eric Church and Jason Michael Carroll. Their music is a little bit edgy, but not enough that radio won't play it.

His songs are very catchy, and one of my favorites is "Blame It On Waylon," during which he credits the late, great Waylon Jennings with his interest in outlaw country.

"Won't Be Lonely Long" touches on a situation in which a man gets dumped on Friday night. There won't be any time for tears, just a good time.

And he gets self-reflective on "Sinner," one of the top ballads I've heard in recent weeks.

Wisconsin, if you have any other quality country singers that you're not telling the rest of us about, please do. Thompson is putting Milwaukee on the map for more than just breweries and Brewers games.