Big Thinkin' (HighTone, 2000)

A Robbie Fulks album sung by Dale Watson is an approximate description ofthis disc. Although Dallas Wayne's burly voice is miles removed from Fulks', the latter's stamp is all over this project. Fulks and Wayne co-produced and co-wrote every song (except two Fulks wrote solo) The backing band is Missouri's Skeletons, with some assistance from pedal steel legend Tom Brumley - all musicians who played on Fulks' "Country Love Songs."

This is something of a "Country Love Songs" album in its own right (even duplicating one song, "Rock Bottom, Pop. 1"), but of a tamer nature lyrically than Fulks' works. There's a low body count and no shock-value words. A lyrical concept Fulks used on that earlier album - a .45 can be a gun or a record - becomes an entire song ("Old 45's) here. "If That's Country" is a more enduringly humorous poke at modern Nashville than Fulks' own "Fuck This Town" or Watson's "Nashville Rash." There are some fine story songs and a bluegrass duet, as well as more typical honky-tonk stylings. "Big Thinkin'" should appeal both to Fulks' fans and to hard country lovers who don't "get" Fulks' own albums.