Domingo 20 Jul 2008, 23h:00
This is one part a review of the 'W' section of my CD library, and one part experiment to see how much they've butchered the Journal with the beta bumble. So let's begin:
Hank is the original outlaw. He's grandma's old beau and the great white hope, the beginning and the ending, the eternal what coulda been that not a one of us will ever live up to. Hank Williams is the man.
There is no excuse for my only having one Greatest Hits CD in my library. It's not 'cause I have all his stuff on vinyl, or even on cassette. For all my reverence for roots, in particular the roots of Nashville, I've never gone deep on Hank Williams. One reason why: If I ever went completist on Hank, I would never ever come up for air until I was so far down that rabbit hole I'd never come back up for air. Simply say, "Hank is the man" and leave it at that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pYTOHernds
I remember when Hank Williams, Jr was on the top of his MSM country radio days. Back before he shilled Monday Night Football. I like the Bochephus who sang A Country Boy Can Survive, who stuck up for his friends and the American way. I don't know who he became. He grew one way and I grew another, or maybe he stayed in a formula and I grew up. He's just become one of those guys whose best day was high school homecoming game or rushing the college frat. It's just sad.
Hank Williams, III is another chapter in a similar story. That story's been told better elsewhere. My impression is this guy could be great if he just gave a rip. Wish I woulda caught his show live when he swung thru Fort Collins. The first half, where Hank III channels "what coulda been". Oh, hell, even the Assjack would be a kick. He's got a new release coming out this fall. I imagine it will be interesting, at the least.
Then Lucinda Williams may not be one of Hank's brood, but if she was it would surprise me none. Lucinda is nobody but Lucinda. The only parallel I can think of is maybe Townes Van Zandt, for pure artistic hard-headedness. Maybe not. When Lucinda is on, she is brillant. Too much with her recent albums tho where ever it is she's at just ain't where I'm at.
Others:
Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams are a Colorado-based retro-country band in the finest tradition of Hank and Lefty and the King of Country Music Bob Wills. They have the high-lonesome sound down to a T. If life was fair these guys would be on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry every week of the year. Nashville's loss is the Rocky Mountains' gain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7vmMaohcIE
Pop Wagner is a Minnesota-based regional retro-country artist. A cowboy in the land of 10,000 lakes. I hope to catch him at a show one of these days.
Back to the Williams family, Holly Williams is also Hank's daughter. She came out with an album a couple years back. The opening track is powerful mainstream country with strong roots. The rest of the album is overproduced pop-folk fluff.
Then from long ago and far away, I oughta like Wiskeytown. It's not that I don't. Caitlin Cary is a talented musician who seems to be staying true to her roots. Ryan Adams just whines too much.
On the other hand, I oughta not like Gillian Welch. While she fails the authenticity test out of hand…. she just pulls it off. It helps that she doesn't have the hollywood plastic-enhanced profile. It helps that she works hard and makes friends with people who have been up the mountain. It helps that she's stayed true to her adopted form. As Lucinda is Lucinda, Gillian is Gillian (or David Rawlings, that's never quite clear) and that is that.
Oh and there's others like The Waifs and a group of guys names West, but let's not push the not-quite-ready-for-prime-time beta too far tonight.
-jc