From beat one, Travis Tritt pulls hard with a heavy rock riff. It's only when he starts singing that you understand why he is considered one of the most important country artists of the 1990s. Tritt likes to present himself as an 'outlaw', where he makes his music sound just a bit heavier than his competitors. On My Honky Tonk History he shows his version of honky tonk music, the forerunner of rock
… and roll as it was popularized by people like Hank Williams and Lefty Frizell. With that angle, the link to southern rock and blues is quickly made. He calls it hardcore country. A highlight is the duet What You Say with root rocker John Mellencamp, with Bela Fleck on the banjo. Up tempo songs predominate, although there is also room for a ballad like Circus Leaving Town. This sensitive side of Tritt ensures that he is appreciated by a wide audience despite his rough image. (MS)more
