It's a Sorry World (Capitol, 1999)

Anyone who's been fortunate enough to catch Tim Wilson live or find one of his small label recordings might find his major label debut a bit jarring. For one thing on the musical numbers, Wilson actually has musical accompaniment (and even back-up singers on tunes like "First Baptist Bar and Grill") which is a shock when you're used to just a guitar and Wilson's ragged baritone. It's incongruous compared with the non-musical comedy bits too, giving the album a sort of half-live, half-studio feel.

Moreover, Capitol decided to bleep out some of the zestier four-letter words. Wilson is not one of those guys whose every other word is profane; when he curses it's with reason, and it feels cowardly on Capitol's part to censor him. (And asterisking a song's title to "Chuck E. Cheese H*ll" is just plain ridiculous.)

Fortunately, Wilson's comedic gifts shine through these emasculating efforts. Of special interest to C&W fans is "Garth Brooks Ruined My Life" and the Pink Floyd-Floyd Cramer splicing "Acid Country." The other tracks will have particular resonance for anybody who's ever had a child or been inside a bank or lived through the 1990's.