Dad Country
For his third release, Jonny Fritz drops the Corndawg from his moniker and returns to his given name. Slightly less left-field than *Down on the Bikini Line*, *Dad Country* still reveals Fritz’s unique perspective while making it clear that this is no put-on. Ditching the stage name is part of it, but mostly it’s the quality of the songs. He takes classic country sounds and themes and adds an oddball contemporary feel. Tales of life on the road, relationships on the rocks, and bar life are drolly humorous and dry, delivered in a reedy voice that\'s fragile and endearing. Some punchlines are so unexpected they make you laugh out loud; other lyrics are poignant and plaintive. Sealing the deal is a crack backing band that includes Spencer Cullum Jr. (Deadstring Brothers) on pedal steel, Josh Hedley on fiddle, and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) on guitar. *Dad Country* is serious fun.