| Lovesick, Broke & Driftin' - Hank Williams III | |
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Reviewed by Jennifer Webb
Showing that not only can Hank III sing as well as anybody out there (if not better), he can also write some of the greatest songs a person would ever have the pleasure of listening to. Out of thirteen total tracks, Hank wrote twelve, with the last one being a cover of Bruce Springsteen's song, "Atlantic City."
"Broke, Lovesick, & Driftin' is the epitome of a Country song with the singer's sad voice and sad lyrics such as "because livin' the nightlife is where I belong, and drinkin' with the drunks that don't wanna go home. It's hard, it's rough, but I can't quite get numb." Throughout his short time here on this earth, he has been through the ringer and has done plenty of "hard living," as anyone could tell by the look in his eyes and the wrinkles on his face.
Going toward the other end of the song subject spectrum to the other, the highly up-tempo, "Lovin' & Huggin'," really gets you going as the listener learns about a guy that enjoys dancing around and loving on his girl because he is feeling very lonely. After a while of affection, the girl "goes plum crazy" by refusing his advances and starts wandering around the house as they get into an argument, babbling on about her cousin that carries a .45 all the time. At the end of the song he finally gives up and says that he has lost the fight.
From the yodel in the very beginning of "One Horse Town," to the trot-along backbeat, you could almost imagine yourself sitting in front of an old Western movie with cowboys roaming the open spaces of the old West as you hear this story of a lonely man that misses the girl that left him heartbroken. So much so, that he says he might be able to make it through the day but he is not promising anything about making it through tomorrow because he is drinking himself to the point of falling down.
Another song that is popular on the radio here in Texas, is "Mississippi Mud," an amazing one that I am sure would make anyone fall in love with it and want to hear it nonstop like I always want to do now. In a way, the tune kind of reminds me of the feeling you get while listening to "Summertime Blues" by Alan Jackson; both are fun, catchy, and pretty crazy, even if Hank's is the craziest one out of the two. As opposed to "learning alot about living and a little 'bout love," though, Hank III prefers to "take his shots straight out of the jug, and likes to do a little dance in the Mississippi Mud," only later to change that last part to, "and I like to get pure drunk in the Mississippi Mud."
"Walkin' With Sorrow" is one of the many songs on Lovesick, Broke, & Driftin' that makes you feel like you are back in the late forties and early fifties listening to a crackly old jukebox in a cafe, or at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for another great Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry. "I'm still here drinking over the good old days, when I had my gal, and everything was okay," he sings right before a lonesome yodel sounds and gives an all-too-well feeling that he will never truly be all right again.
Sounding a bit more "modern" with a beautiful dobro solo featured throughout the song, "5 Shots of Whiskey" stands out and I hope it will have a chance on national Country radio someday, and not just the few brave stations that take a stand and play the different/non-conformist brand of country. The male of the song sings about how all he needs to get over the relationship is some whiskey, as he thanks her for the good times they had. All of the emotions came flooding back because, as he was walking along the street, he saw his old flame with another man and he was stroking her hair just like he used to do.
While waiting to receive this great album, I would hear "7 Months, 39 Days" on the radio constantly and it would make me downright anxious to review Hank III's latest collection and I was so glad, (and I still am), that I had this chance. I never like to compare artists, because I know each one strives for their own individuality, but yes sure he sounds like his grandfather (Hank Williams Sr.) but he also sounds, well, like himself. I am sure Hank III wants to be remembered for his own style, just as his father (Hank Williams Jr.) wanted the same thing. While they might respect each other's music, they do not want to be carbon copies of each other just because they share the same name. Hank III does a great job of setting himself apart from the rest of the pack, whether it be when he plays the Country part of his show, or the Punk part. People love him just the same - both ways.
Song List:
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble
Album cover, used with permission of Curb.
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