Welcome back to Takeover Tuesday, where each week, Billboard taps chart-topping artists and tastemakers to compile their very own playlist exclusive to Billboard's Spotify account. We give the artists free rein to base the list on whatever subject they choose. The only rule? Make it as creative and unique to them as possible.
Whenever The Cadillac Three are asked what they sound like, the trio have always said "Country Fuzz." And though they're now on their fourth album as a band, The Cadillac Three are divulging what "Country Fuzz" means more than ever, with a project titled exactly that.
On the heels of releasing Country Fuzz on Feb. 7, The Cadillac Three are taking their fuzz even further with a Takeover Tuesday playlist dedicated to the songs that fuel their country-rock sound. While they explain that "Country Fuzz" is "a mix of everything we grew up on, from Lynyrd] Skynyrd to Metallica to Nirvana to Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks and more," the Cadillac Three guys' 15-song playlist includes more unconventional stars like Gary Clark Jr., Anderson .Paak and Kaleo.
The trio also highlight several genre-bending artists like themselves, including country icon Jerry Reed, Grammy-winning group Alabama Shakes and sibling duo Brothers Osborne.
"This playlist features artists that have inspired us the last few years while we made our new album," The Cadillac Three (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason and Kelby Ray) tell Billboard in a statement. "There is a lot of great new music from artists that live on the fringe — who we love — and think should have a home.”
Check out The Cadillac Three's "Songs That Inspire The Fuzz" Takeover Tuesday Playlist, as well as some comments from each of the band members, below.
Jerry Reed, "Amos Moses": "This guitar & the grooves on this track are insane. Jerry Reed’s been a big influence for a long time for us." — Jaren
Gary Clark Jr., "Pearl Cadillac": "This dude is at the top of his game, strong songs, killer melodies, GREAT guitar player & this song is bringing classic Prince vibes in a serious way that helped inspire the funky side of Country Fuzz." — Neil
Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Choctaw Bingo": "Ray Wylie is in the TC3 hall of fame. He’s as cool as they come. He’s got swagger for days & we listen to him every night on the road." — Kelby
Brent Cobb, "Sucker For A Good Time": "Brent is one of our all timers. His voice is as pure as they come… Great phrasing, melodies & lyrics. The grooves on this record & the slide guitar has been a big influence on us the past few years." — Neil
Anderson .Paak, "Come Down": "Groove for days. This dude’s pocket & cadence are as good as anything out there. Badass." — Jaren
Monster Truck, "Don’t Tell Me How To Live": "We were fans of these guys & then we got to tour with them in the UK & they are badass live. This song was one of our most played on the bus for a long time." — Kelby
Paul Cauthen, "Cocaine Country Dancing": "We discovered this guy pretty recently & he’s awesome. This track & the whole album sound amazing. Gotta do some shows sometime soon." — Jaren
Kaleo, "I Want More": "Met these guys some years ago & have been big fans ever since. They are from Iceland but this song feels like it coulda come from a country road in Tennessee in the best ways." — Neil
Steve, "Fuck A Bomb": "Luke Dick & Co. bringing the riffs & the big drums on this fuzzy jam. These guys have toured with us a lot this past year & always bring the show to another level." — Neil
Sturgill Simpson, "Turtles All The Way Down": "One of our most played albums of the last few years. A classic record top to bottom." — Jaren
Freddie King, "Big Legged Woman": "Somewhere between Country & Fuzz is the blues & this one has great tones, groove & that bass is so good." — Kelby
Alabama Shakes, "Always Alright": "Ever since Alabama Shakes came out they’ve been bringing great tones & timeless songs. They are a bus fave." — Kelby
Rival Sons, "Keep On Swinging": "That drum sound, Jay’s voice, the riffs. This thing is a jam & we listen to it every night before we go on stage." — Jaren
Ruston Kelly, "Asshole": "This is a homemade demo that he released a couple years ago & it just sounds super cool & dirty. It reminds me of a lot of the little GarageBand demos we make on the back of the bus." — Neil
Brothers Osborne, "Rum": "Bros are bad to the bone & this song has some killer slide by John & always takes us back to the first time we got day drunk with these guys in Panama City on Coronas & Tequila shots." — Jaren
