Hank Williams III - Damn Right, Rebel Proud
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Free Music Notes for Damn Right, Rebel Proud
Free Music Review: A bit of a let-down from one of the best
Hit: 3 Stars
After III's excellent "Straight to Hell," which marked the first time he was able to release the edgier type of album that he had been pushing for a while, I was interested to see where he would take his sound. "Damn Right, Rebel Proud" takes the sound in several new directions, which unfortunately don't come together to form a truly cohesive album.
There are several great songs that only could have come from Hank III ("The Grand Ole Opry," "Long Hauls and Close Calls," and "P,F,F"), but also some largely forgettable songs ("Wild & Free," "Stoned and Alone," and "H8 Line"). And at this point in his career, the country lost-love songs like "I Wish I Knew" sound a little out of place. On "Wild & Free" Hank does his damnedest to make his voice sound like it did in 2002, although it is obvious that the Assjack performances and cigarettes have taken their toll on his pipes. "Candidate for Suicide" combines the old-III sound with the new-III edginess, and it's not a particularly effective combination. "3 Shades of Black" is a terrific song that is made kind of hokey by the backwards speech inserted between verses. "P,F,F" is a song that can be appreciated by people who know of, but don't necessarily enjoy, the work of G.G. Allin. I don't really understand why there is a Hellbilly version and an acoustic version. People who don't like the Hellbilly version probably aren't going to change their mind about the song when they hear a version with clearer lyrics. I'm not a G.G. fan, but this is definitely a catchy song.
So this album has Hank doing some county love songs, the Assjack/Hellbilly sound, the creepy Satanic thing, the "Lovesick, Broke & Driftin'" era sound, and the trademark foulmouthed fast outlaw songs. The album ends with a Bob Wayne song that serves as the perfect closer, only in that it provides another example of this album's lack of focus. The spoken part in the middle of that song is cringe-worthy, and the lyrical content puts a bizarre and unsatisfying finishing touch on the album. If you told me that this CD was actually a collection of b-sides and rare tracks, I might have appreciated it more, but as a proper release it is unfocused and disappointing.
Many III fans will be quick to scream, "at least it's better than the stuff you hear on the radio," and they are correct. However, I think we can expect more from the guy who has played a major role in promoting and inspiring other bands who are releasing great albums in this genre. My hope is that he is just phoning it in right now until his contract with Curb Records expires.
Free Music Review: An Album of 2 Halfs
Hit: 3 Stars
Like a few others have said this is not Hank III's best effort. The biggest problem for me is that this is too much like his early albums without the diversity that he brought in during Straight To Hell. His first couple of albums are good but go slightly over the top with his anti Nashville, drinking/drugging and living free themes. However, he was young and these efforts showed promise which he then brought out on Hell. This album feels like a regression back to that. The songs early songs on this album sound very similar and the lyrical content sounds forced and repetitive.
We start of with another anti Nashville rant The Grand Ole Opry (Ain't So Grand) and although I tend to agree with the semtiment he has done it better and does he really need to repeat himself like this? Then follows a few songs about getting high and living free. These are not terrible but he has done similar themed songs that are better and to me a few of these songs blur into each other. Now I like Hank's music but a great lyric writer he is not and although I have critised his repetitive themes he is beeter in that territory than when he tries to be "deep". The song Candidate for Suicide includes some really awful lyrics about a hard life and I am guessing that the intention was not to make the listener laugh although that is exactly what I did! Now before all the Hank purists try to lynch me that was the critisim the rest is pretty positive.
From here on though the album gets pretty good. The song H8 Line puts in a little bit of distortion that gives the album a bit of diversity from the usual sound and is more like his heavier stuff. The next couple of songs also manage to keep from sounding too formuliac with the rockier Long Hauls and the acoustic Stoned and Alone. Then we get to the quite disturbing but brilliant PFF. This song is a tribute to the late GG Alin and in keeping with his memory it is filthy and disturbing but again has a different even punky feel to it, without being out and out punk and keeping the country sound but be warned the lyrics are brutal PFF standing for Punch, Fight.... and I'll let you figure out the last word yourself! The last couple of songs are decent acousticy country folk numbers. 3 Shades of Black has a Johnny Cash feel to it and Working Man is again acoustic with a good country vibe to it.
So really an album of 2 halfs. The first half to me is repetitive and samey but the second half shows Hank's more creative side and makes the album worth having.
Free Music Review: Good but not his best
Hit: 3 Stars
Hank 3 latest Damn Right, And Rebel Proud is a good cd but not his best. I appereciate everything that makes Hank,Hank we all know he's an outlaw and respects all the other outlaws( Waylon,Willie, Johnny Cash,David Allen Coe)and that he's a country outsider thats why he's so awesome. But enough of how Nashville and The Grand Old Opry sucks we get it and know it thats why we like Hank and enough of the many drugs he does and how much booze he drinks and how man times he can swear.I'm not a prude but his last two efforts while they have some really good songs there are a lot of songs that seems juvinelle to me.Risin Outlaw and Love Sick were awesome and had a rebel side. All the legends that he follows while outlaws never really sang about all the garabage stuff,my childern ages 11 and 6 love Hank but with STH & DRRP they can't listen to everthing next time how about going back to tradiontal country and leaving everthing else for Assjack.Free Music Review: Let Down
Hit: 3 Stars
Ive only been a fan of 3's for a little over a year now. Lovesick was great and straight to hell is amazing! another reviewer said this is s2h pt 2 and i dont agree. i wouldve loved to have heard more of the same as aposed to this. many other reviewers have nailed it. this album is unfocused, disjointed and just uninteresting. i also find it just boring, and the lyrics rather juvenille. i wouldve given this a one if not for the fact that ive only had it for a month now and havent fuly absorbed it. maybe it will grow on me. a little. sorry hank but you didnt do it for me this time.
but rest assured im still a huge fan and ill see ya out on that road and i will definitly pick up your next realease.
Free Music Review: Good Music With Some Reservations
Hit: 3 Stars
Some great Rebel country...if you like Rebel country. I loved III's other discs, but this one's sounding a little long in the tooth. You can only hear so many songs about Shelton "getting stoned", "doin' the best that (he) can" and "living off the land"....and then it begins to get a little boring. I really love his stuff, but this album just isn't doing it for me.
If you want some GREAT III music, get Straight to Hell. Very diverse, and some AWESOME traditional country on disc 2. You won't regret your purchase.