As a West Texas desert rat, I’ve always had a thing for dark wild, wild western tinged sounds in music of all genres from rock to bluegrass, and today just seemed like as great time as any to share some or my favorite recent and older finds.

“Atone” by Jerry Cantrell

Alice in Chains member Jerry Cantrell is known for trying many different styles and sounds in his solo ventures, and this song from his 2021 album Brighten explores some cool west and hard rock elements. The video’s filming locations are just add to the mood including Joshua Tree National Park and the Salton Sea.

“Eastwood” by Brad Paisley

Country star Brad Paisley’s tribute to the sounds of the spaghetti western is extra awesome because it features, as solo whistler, the man himself, Clint Eastwood. You can’t get cooler than that.

“You Are My Sunshine” by The Dead South

Hopefully, you’ve heard of this amazing, bare bones bluegrass band from Canada. Their video for “In Hell I’ll Be in Good Company” plays a big part in their rise in popularity with more than 288 million views on YouTube, but they have so, so much more great sounds. This includes some newer releases from their album, Easy Listening for Jerks including this very Dead South cover of the folk standard.

“Far From Any Road” by The Handsome Family

This Albuquerque-based husband and wife team started in Chicago, Illinois, and puts out some fever dream sounding alt country. This song is a great jumping off point to dive into their vibe. Those of you who watched the first season of True Detective back in 2014 will recognize it as the theme song. It still sounds great today.

“Man of Constant Sorrow” by Charm City Devils

Going back to 2012, with this hard rock cover of the bluegrass favorite, Baltimore’s Charm City Devils had one of their biggest hits with this song. Easy to see why, as it really has a genre-crossing appeal. It works just fine for riding off into that sunset, whether you’re on a horse or a Harley.

If you are celebrating Valentine’s Day, mourning the death of sci-fi gunslinger Cad Bane on the streets of Mos Espa, or just in need of an escape from the constant madness, there is always time to discover some great music. Wait until the sun is setting, and find a suitable porch, balcony, bench or rock, and lean back and enjoy.