Description
Shooter Jennings – The Wolf – Vinyl Record
Shooter Jennings’ The Wolf, released on October 21, 2007, is the third studio album from the son of country legend Waylon Jennings, and it serves as a dynamic blend of outlaw country grit, Southern rock swagger, and modern rock influences. Following the stylistic range of Put the “O” Back in Country (2005) and Electric Rodeo (2006), The Wolf continues Shooter’s effort to honor his family legacy while carving out his own place in country music’s ever-evolving landscape.
The title The Wolf is a nod to Jennings’ desire to embrace the duality of his musical instincts: the traditional and the rebellious, the country crooner and the rock provocateur. The album is rooted in classic country instrumentation, with pedal steel, fiddle, and twangy guitar tones, but it’s also infused with alternative rock edge and thematic darkness, showing Shooter’s refusal to be boxed into genre constraints. His band, The .357’s, deliver tight, energetic performances throughout, backing up his gritty vocals with a raw, unpolished sound that suits the album’s rugged identity.
The Wolf explores themes of personal struggle, spiritual conflict, love, sin, and redemption. On songs like “Walk of Life” (a stripped-down cover of Dire Straits’ classic), he puts a soulful, almost spiritual spin on the track, turning it from an arena rock anthem into something more introspective. “Tangled Up Roses”, one of the album’s standout originals, is a heartfelt ballad full of Southern imagery and reflective pain—demonstrating Jennings’ growth as a songwriter capable of subtlety and emotional depth. Meanwhile, songs like “This Ol’ Wheel” (featuring Doug Kershaw and guest vocals from country-rap figure M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold) show his taste for experimentation and collaboration.
Production-wise, The Wolf strikes a balance between roots authenticity and arena-ready sheen. Shooter and his team allow the songs to breathe, giving space to storytelling while maintaining the album’s high energy and sonic punch. Though not as commercially visible as mainstream Nashville records of the time, it resonated with fans of the alt-country, outlaw revival, and Southern rock scenes, helping to further define Shooter as one of the more adventurous voices in contemporary country.
The Wolf was well received for its sincerity and stylistic range. While some country purists found his rock leanings jarring, many praised Jennings for continuing to challenge genre lines in the spirit of his father’s outlaw ethos. In the broader context of the 2000s Americana revival, The Wolf stands out as an album that stays true to traditional storytelling while refusing to stay comfortably in the past.
The Wolf is a bold and personal record—a mix of Southern roots and rebellious flair that showcases Shooter Jennings’ commitment to authenticity over convention. It’s an album for those who appreciate country music with a rock heart and a rebel soul.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
This Ol Wheel Featuring – Doug “The Ragin’ Cajun” Kershaw
Tangled Up Roses
Walk Of Life
Old Friend
Slow Train Featuring – The Oak Ridge Boys
Time Management 101
Concrete Cowboys
Higher
Blood From A Stone
Last Time I Let You Down
She Lives In Color
The Wolf
A Matter Of Time
