Hank Williams III - Risin' Outlaw

This is what rockin' country is supposed to sound like. Shelton Hank Williams, grandson of the country music icon, shows everything he's got on "I Don't Know," his debut's opening track: breakneck fiddle; fancy picking, equal parts Nashville and Macon; flexible rhythm section; wounded, piercing vocals; and unforgiving songs of rage, recklessness, and rejection. He then spends the rest of the CD refining it, song by song. As a writer, he has a real flair for imagery and the sturdy hook, and he also has good taste in remakes. Yes, there is some posturing; occasionally it feels like his nose for trouble, sense of despair, and wild eyes spring from listening to all the right records rather than out of anyone's real life. But for the most part, Hank III seems to come by these things the old-fashioned way: he earns them. Already. If he doesn't earn too much, he's going to do great things. --John Morthland Amazon.com

Ghostly nostalgia with daring originality

Much has already been said about this album . . .and I don't know what more I can add...except that for me, one of the most brilliant concepts about the album is that Hank Williams III seems to be raising his own grandfather's ghost while at the same time forcible keeping his own beautiful originality intact.

The last song "Blue Devil" is particularly haunting, not only because it reflects the split nature of all three Hank Williams singers, but also because the editing in the piece recalls those late nights of driving across lonely stretches of the Arizona desert and trying to listen to country western songs on some distant and fading AM station.

In closing I might also add that it's seems a bit strange to find photos on this album of bits and pieces of an old car's backseat, which may or may not have reference to his own grandfather untimely death in the backseat of a Cadillac in 1953. And how Hank Williams III's music is somehow forever connected to his own grandfather's nostalgia of good western music.
December 6, 2007

carries on the torch...

This is one of my favorite Hank III cd's besides "Straight to hell." This CD has quite a few good songs on it. The songs I think that stand out the most are: "You're the reason," "Lonesome for you," "thunder storms and neon signs," his cover of Johnny Cash's "Cocaine Blues" I think is done really well, I'd say almost as good if not just as good as the original. And "Why don't you leave me alone" is a real good song with a type of "live in a bar" vibe to it. It is one of my favorite (country) songs that Hank III has performed. If you've heard other (country) songs by Hank III you've liked I definitely reccomend this album... August 13, 2007

That's Entertainment!

I love it when Hank III plays country (not so into his thrash side). Anyway, this is my personal favorite as "Lovesick Broke & Driftin'" is a tad weak and "Straight To Hell" seems a little too scattered and self-indulgent. This one just makes me wanna drink beer and have a good time! He's not the best songwriter, but it's that magic twang in his voice and the classic honky tonk sound that gets me going. As an aside, it's really annoying to me when all these former rock music guys proclaim stuff like this to be "Real Country". You people have no clue what real country is! It sure as hell isn't your little elitist/romanticized version where a rock beat, murder ballads and songs about partying are about all thats allowed to pass the hipster PC court. Country music gives comfort to working class people in rural communities. And if that means Faith Hill and Brad Paisley, so what! Real country people don't give a damn about you tattooed suburban posers trying to dictate what's "real". Hank III is no more "real" than any of that other "alternative" country crap that will be passe soon enough. He's just doing retro-flavored stuff to make a little money. I don't care. Enjoy your next fad! July 17, 2007

Bwahaha...

Loaded up, hammered back, I'll smack you with my tire jack.

All I gotta say and it's not even my quote. Buy it punks. January 28, 2007

Album Stinks

Hank III has done nothing but prove what a whiner he is by trashing other artists. I have not heard one song on here that suggests any artistic ability. This guy needs to clean up his mouth and worry about himself instead of trashing others. February 14, 2006

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