CD Review: Hank Williams III - Straight To Hell
Published February 22, 2006
Hank Williams III wants you to know he doesn't give a damn what you think. It's a sort of coping mechanism. When you are the country-singing grandson of the greatest country singer of all time, and the son of a singer who himself has had dozens of top-ten country hits and remained until this year the face of NFL football, I imagine it's important to stake out your own territory as a man.
It's true that whatever you could say about children of famous people goes triple for Hank III. His gaunt visage and nasal voice more than a little take after the founder of his noble line, which is enough. But it was his family who gave us hard living songs like "I'll Never Get Out Of this World Alive" and "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound," not to mention two of the more memorable substance-abuse biographies in a country music history full of great contenders.
To try to live up to this legacy would be a hard burden to carry for even the steadiest person, and Hank Williams III is definitely not steady. He didn't even really want to be in music until child-support payments forced his hand. And ever since he made his first recordings - a disc of Natalie Cole-style "duets" with his father and grandfather that he quickly disavowed - he has been fighting with the past and dealing with the pressure others put on him, by jettisoning mannered country stylisms in favor of a juiced-up country/punk hybrid. Even so, he can't escape the past, and it's not clear that he really wants to.
Hank Williams III's live shows are reportedly something else; a night that starts with a set of hard-bitten country ballads gradually revs up to a thrashing punk finale. And while plenty of groups have tried to marry punk and country to varying degrees of success (see: Mojo Nixon; The Reverend Horton Heat; Social Distortion's Mike Ness), Williams' balls-out I'm-an-asshole nature takes him over the top and into brand-new territory. His music sounds for the most part like it could have been recorded in 1963, but in its execution it is rougher and rowdier than country ever has been- if Johnny Cash's Tennessee Three was a long sip of Jim Beam, Hank III is a slug of Rebel Yell straight from the bottle.
His new album, Straight To Hell, is the first I've ever heard that straddles the hallowed ground between Bill Monroe and Mötörhead, between "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and "Ace of Spades." At some point late in your first run through the record, it will hit you that you haven't once heard a distorted guitar. The album is so punk-rock in attitude and execution, the tempos so headlong, that you are sure that at some point somebody plugged a Gibson into a cheap fuzz pedal. But that never actually happened. Instead, Williams' band chases his rough whine of a voice with keening country fiddle, a driving tick-tack beat, plenty of tasty Martin and Telecaster guitars, and a nice helping of steel guitar and Dobro just like all those old country albums I grew up on. The playing is raucous but clean - as fiery and precise as anything I've heard, and they can raise a storm without needing over-driven amplifiers.
Straight To Hell, starts off with about thirty seconds of a scratchy, plaintive country-gospel ballad called "Satan Is Real," which quickly degenerates into basso-profundo laughter (presumably from the dark lord himself) as the band kick into the real album opener, a honky-tonk barnburner called "Straight to Hell." That's not just a name - it really is the theme of the album. Like Hank Williams Sr., Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard before him, Hank III is one of those artists who sing about a life of pills, whiskey and madness but constantly lament that all this fun means they will burn forever in hell. This tension between gleeful dissipation and crushing depression is what gives Straight To Hell its kick. On the title song, Williams tears into lines about "looking for trouble" with the same fury as he sings the chorus, "I'm going straight to hell, ain't nothing slowing me down / I'm going straight to hell, so you just better get me one more round."
- CD Review: Hank Williams III - Straight To Hell
- Published: February 22, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Country and Americana, Music: Punk Rock
- Writer: John Owen
- John Owen's BC Writer page
- John Owen's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Holy crow... I had no idea it was so personal. I kind of feel bad about the whole affair now... I'm sure III has family issues to begin with, and to have reporters asking you about illegitimate half-brothers must really suck. Especially when Kid Rock was such a tool about it.
Then again, it's Kid Rock and Hank Williams III we're talking about here. Neither models of quiet introspection.
John-
I'm not a fan of country music, but i bought Risin' Outlaw a while back on a random whim, and it really grew on me. It sounds like this new one is more intense than Risin' Outlaw. Do you have any comparisons you can draw between the two?
EZ, I'm afraid I can't compare, having not heard Risin' Outlaw. From what I understand, it's a fair bet that this one is more energetic sounding, but thematically not totally different. Barring, that is, the obsession with defending the past on the new record.
I think I really need to get Risin' Outlaw.
I just wanted to let you know that the song on disc 2, "I Could Never Be Ashamed Of You," was actually Hank III singing. It was recorded to sound as if it was an old recording but was actually the first time he has covered his granddad on one of his own albums. He does do a great impersonation of Sr. though.
Aw man, that's amazing!! One of my favorite things about Hank III is that he's so completely caught up in this weird trigenerational Oedipal/ancestor worship thing.
John,
I loved your review of 'Straight to Hell' and I got the CD the day it was shipped to my local record mart. I love it... every single song. I've seen him three times and this CD is him. I want to highly recommend both 'Risin Outlaw' and 'Lovesick, Broke, and Driftin,' Hank III's previous two CD's. Just a little background, Risin' Outlaw is his least favorite, due to the problems he had with Curb records telling him what he could and could not record. I think it is a great CD and 'Lovesick Broke and Driftin' is just as good if not better, but "Straight to Hell' is where it is obvious he is recording what he wants without interference from Curb. I recommend you see Hank III live if possible, his band is just as tight and together as they are on the CD, and I have to also tell you that his bass player, Joe Buck, is worth the trip just to watch. A great showman, musician, and nice guy. I'm hoping Hank III starts getting the recognition he deserves because he is the ultimate country rebel outlaw!!!!!
I know I'm a little late, but I decided to comment on this review anyway. "Straight to Hell" is absolutely amazing! Being from Arkansas (still live there) I was raised on folks like Cash, Haggard and of course Hank Sr. I can't express how sickened I am at the direction "country" music has taken. It is not COUNTRY! When I discovered Hank3 I couldn't get enough. I've seen him several times and he puts on one of the best shows you'll ever attend. Last time, he sat on the edge of the stage and talked/signed autographs for almost an hour after the show. And, I mean he actually talked to people. His connection to and appreciation for his fans is impressive. He and his awsome band also sound every bit as good live as on CD. And, yes, Joe Buck is quite a character (his website is JoeBuckYou). If you hear he's coming to town do not miss it....it's a sight to see and a hell of a lot of fun. My advice would be to see him before things blow up and he stops playing bars because this guy's gonna be big (if he can just stay alive). Man, I hope Shelton keeps pissing people off and giving the Opry the finger for many years to come.
Good review. I love Straight to Hell, album of the year I'd say.
we are a couple in our late fifty's and have seen Hank III about 30 times since 1999 - in Texas, Florida, California, Nebraska and places in between. We absolutely LOVE him. He is a GREAT entertainer and is very personable. We recommend everyone who loves country music and a GREAT SINCERE entertainer go see him.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/43977)
III's 'takedown' of Kid Rock has nothing to do with him being a Yankee. It has to do with Hank Jr claiming that Kid Rock is "his rebel son" on various occastions. People asking if Kid Rock is really his brother is very annoying, not to mention that Kid made an ass of himself on III's bus a few years ago claiming to be "bigger than Elvis".