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The Great Western Squares released their second album,Almost Sober, on blunt/Independent on 17th April 1998.

Following on from 1997's ecstatically received début, Judas Steer, Almost Sober features original tracks penned by frontman Gary Fitzpatrick, guitarist Stan Erraught and Jubilee Allstars mainman Barry McCormack plus two covers (Gram Parsons' 'Luxury Liner' and Merle Haggard's 'Sing Me Back Home').
The Great Western Squares were nominated for a Hot Press award ("Best New Band") and also for an IRMA award ("Best Country Album").

The Great Western Squares (who stole their name from a street sign in Phibsboro, North Dublin) originally shambled together for an impromptu performance at the now legendary 'Johnny Cash Appreciation Society' club nights which took place through the summer of '96 at the Hut in Phibsboro, North Dublin - the Appreciation Society was quickly barred from the Hut for 'over-consumption of free drink'. During the summer Gary spent his time (and dole money!!) hunting through record shop bargain bins for lost country classics. By October '96 The Great Western Squares (now augmented by mandolin-player Gog) were offered a residency in the White horse pub on Burgh Quay to indulge their growing passion for Jimmy webb, Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, Merle Haggard, George Jones, John Prine, Loretta Lynn and a host of other American folk and country singers.
In March '97 Gary, Oona and Gog (sacked from CIE for stealing drink off the trains) sneaked into Sun studios for a day to record a couple of acoustic songs to lighten up the full-on noise of the Pincher Martin album. Instead they emerged with a set of thirteen country songs (having whittled down their repertoire of 72 covers) - although only after Gary had borrowed £30 to reclaim his 12-string from the pawn shop, Gog had escaped a court room by pleading guilty for cycling on the path, and a quick phone call had brought ex-Stars Of Heaven mainman Stan Erraught (appearances were also made by John Hegarty on piano, Tim Rogers on fiddle and Alan Murphy on drums). This session made up their début album, Judas Steer.

While some might initially have been a little suspicious of the band's pedigree a multitude of impressive gigs together with international media acclaim (including a rave review in Country Music International magazine) seem to have convinced most of the sceptics.

Both 'Judas Steer' and 'Almost Sober' are available in the U.S. through PARAS/RYKO and the Squares recently had a track 'Washed My Hands In Muddy Waters' on the 'New Highway ­ A return to viva Americanna' compilation.