Chris Housman -- Blueneck

Chris Housman is really fucking smart. If you haven’t noticed that in the past, his new album Blueneck demonstrates Housman’s way with words. Every song is a lyrical revolution — and casually catchy, too. Housman has cleverly engineered these songs to be at home on country radio, in itself a political statement given that it is unlikely the album will be picked up on terrestrial radio. (CMT, once again, is blazing the trail by featuring his music.)

The title track is one of my favorite country songs — ever. Housman achieves the rare feat of crafting a summer bop that is funny, earnest, anti-racist, and defiant all at once. “Guilty as Sin,” whose video premiered on CMT, follows in the same vein, eschewing Christian fundamentalists, proudly lifting a middle finger, and gently encouraging you to dance.

Similarly, “Drag Queen” is a banger, with each lyric a study in contrasts. It’s as much a loving character study as it is an ode to drag queens, particularly poignant in light of the state’s attempted drag ban. This is mainstream country music that unapologetically celebrates queer culture. While this song belongs on any mainstream country playlist, its subversion lies in the fact that the kind of people who tune into that music are going to be really furious when they hear it.

If anything, that polished sound might be a turn-off to some listeners. It’s designed to be a mainstream country album, and there’s an edge that some of us might miss, even as Housman delivers hard truths like recounting the abusive nature of evangelical Christian culture on “Bible Belt.” The poignant “Life Behind Bars” expresses the doubts inherent in the life of an aspiring musician, made all the more impactful when we consider everything stacked against Housman. Blueneck shows he’s got more talent in his pinky than the guys selling out arenas — and that’s a tough truth about queer country, as well.

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