Badlands (CD - 2005)

Recorded at Johnny Cash's cabin studio in Tennessee and co-produced by the late legend's son, John Carter Cash, BADLANDS makes Marty Stuart's connection to the Man in Black all the more explicit. A former bandmate and son-in-law of Cash's, Stuart also shares the country icon's interest in Native American culture, as evidenced on this 2005 album. The moody production and Stuart's twangy, occasionally rock-inflected arrangements carry these 13 sweeping narratives about the always rich, always complex history of America's indigenous people. The result is a compelling record and a thoughtful addition to the singer's increasingly remarkable body of work. minimize