Tell the Truth (Pure, 1996)

If ever there was a potential for being a gimmick band, this is it.  Five guys dressed up as cowboys playing "western reggae" music?  Sounds silly, but for a good portion of this album, it works (Of course, it may not be that silly, since western references have been a part of dancehall for years, from Clint Eastwood, Josey Wales, and Lone Ranger to Terry Ganzie and Bounty Killer.).  Now, the music that Reggae Cowboys play is reggae, first and foremost, so don't be afraid.  At times they are very reminiscent of Steel Pulse (especially on the title track) with a bit of a dancehall edge ("We ah Come Down"), but their signature sound is achieved by their use of steely western guitars -- as epitomized on their rendition of the classic western theme song, "Hang 'em High."  The steel guitars add a similar effect to the music as blues guitars do -- tranquil yet with a funky potential.  Reggae Cowboys have certainly stumbled upon a unique style that can be truly appealing, particularly since their guitars are always low-key, never breaking into wailing rock guitar solos.  The group -- with members named Marshall Brooks and Bounty Don and the like -- sings lyrics that are likewise uniquely slanted toward Western themes, creating atmospheric moods of bounty hunters, outlaws, 12 o'clock duels, and saddle sores.  Sadly, the group can only maintain the freshness of the sound for the first half of this album -- the peak being the fun "Searchin' for the Outlaw."  After that, it gets old, and the material gets older.  Reggae Cowboys manage to prove that their sound is not a gimmick, but they fail to show that it can sustain the listener's interest throughout an entire album.

Stone Ranger (Fifty Fifty Music, 2003)

You have to admire how Reggae Cowboys have stuck to their guns (no pun intended) and continued to produce their one-of-a-kind sound.  For fans of their rock steady/ska/rock 'n roll/country/pop mix, Stone Ranger should prove more than satisfactory.  In fact, I found it the most complete of the group's first 3 albums.  As usual, the music here is fun and fast-paced with a heavy reliance on electric guitars, although there are some slower tunes that will appeal to roots fans, such as the wonderful covers of Bob Marley's "Concrete Jungle" (with a nice bluesy edge) and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" (which changes the melody to great, funky effect).  However, when you think Reggae Cowboys, you think up-tempo and free-wheeling, and that's what most of Stone Ranger provides, with the rock steady flair of  "Night Train" and "Samedi Soir," the Spanish guitar of "Maria," and the rocking instrumental "Night Riders" (David Hasselhoff nowhere to be found).  Still, the steely electric guitar sound isn't for everyone, and it leads to a couple of strange moments on this album, namely "Now n' Forever," which sounds like something approaching rockabilly, and "Buckin' Bronco," which feels like it should be played at a square dance ("Do the bucking bronco"?).  Yee-haw!