Customer Reviews

127 Rose Avenue

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Prime Cuts: Mighty Oak Trees, All the Roads (with Grascals), Gulf Shore Road

Hank Jr is a lodestar many younger artists should aspire to emulate. At age 60, while many of his peers have long hung up their boots or resigned to singing at Branson (the cemetery of country music), this ferocious honky tonk rocker is still signed to a major label and making visits to the Billboard country charts. And it doesn't come as a surprise that the secret to his longevity is his ability to connect with the changing times. Not that his music morphs with trends. Rather, Hank Jr. is not afraid of addressing issues our modern society faces in his own candid, gutsy and masculine ways without going all mawkish. Thus, in many ways he has become the voice of Middle America without the garnish of societal posh. "127 Rose Avenue," Hank Jr's first full length CD of new material in 6 years, finds its zip code in such a territory. Whether it's child abuse, the current economic recession, domestic mismatch, this Junior Bocephus takes them on with penetrating poignancy.

With its militant beat and its hell-raising guitars, on the opener "The Farm" Hank Jr shows all the younger country rock acts how it is to rock with an unapologetic abandon. While current single "Red, White and Pink Slip Blues" ought to strike a chord with victims of the current economic recession via the story's main character, a millworker who had been given the boot after his factory closed down. Writer Steven Dale Jones' attention paid to the song's moving storyline is what makes this a worthy hit for Hank Jr. Political incorrectness is a term never found in Hank Jr's vocabulary as "High Maintenance Woman" (not the Toby Keith song of the same title) deals with a relationship mismatch between a spendthrift of a wife and her low-budget guy. Hank Jr tells it with his usual candour that is belly aching funny. "Sounds Like Justice," another message song, tackles the thorny issue of child abuse. Hank Jr's enforces his stomping uncompromising stance with its fist pumping anthemic chorus as he keeps repeating "Sounds like justice to me."

There are a couple of slowies: on the bluesy swampy ballad "Mighty Oak Trees," Hank Jr does slow down a notch to tip his hat to those who have supported him throughout his life. While the mulling "Gulf Shore Road" is a languid getaway kind of ballad which shows a romantic side of this rocker we rarely hear about. The title track "127 Rose Avenue" refers to the home of Hank Jr's legendary dad's home, which has been turned into museum. With a hint of sadness and hope, Hank Jr recalls a visit to his childhood and even having to pay for an admission ticket only to be greeted warmly by his dad's spirit. Most surprising though is "All the Roads," an excursion into bluegrass. Here Hank Jr actually delivers one of the most catchy love songs in a long while, this time in unison with bluegrass group the Grascals.

However, not all is stellar: "Forged By Fire" is far too preachy and politically drive. While his tribute to his dad "Long Lonesome Blues" gets a little overindulgent running over 6 minutes. Nevertheless, "124 Rose Avenue" finds Hank Jr back into the map of viability. Even after all the changes in country music, Hank Jr still reminds us through this new disc that he is still as relevant and vital. Once again, he confirms that he is still the original country rocker par excellence.

Exceptional music & vocals. Was able to see Hank perform on Fox, encouraged me to purchase this cd. I was not disappointed! I am not a big long time Hank fan, however I do enjoy some of his past recordings. I am a former musician that takes alot of pride in my choice of music.(mostly blues or old rock)This cd is truly something special.When Hank hits those low notes it will send chills up your spine. I assure you that I do not listen to junk, and I believe this cd will become a much loved classic. If you are a lover of great music, especially country, blues or rock, you will not be disappointed in this purchase. It is already one of my favorites, and will be for years to come.

Classic Hank, everything from country to blues. Particularly strong are "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" and "Farm Song". I would highly recommend this CD for anyone that is a Hank fan. It's just a shame that radio station insist on playing phony acts like Rascal Flatface and Keith Duckface in lieu of Hank. I sure hope Hank stays on Monday Night Football and keeps kicking butt with his music, after all, it is a "Family Tradition".

Good old Hank Jr. does it again. If your a fan of Hank Jr. you should have this CD in your collection. My favorits are "Sounds Like Justice" and "High Maintenance Woman". I really like the way Hank puts country and the blues.

If there has been one thing Bocephus has been all his life, it is consistent. It is clear that he just likes playing music and jammin' and he picks his songs accordingly. This CD is similar in his long line of old-fashioned honky tonkin'. There are some near classics here -- 127 Rose Ave and Mighty Oak Trees -- and a lot of good R&B country honky tonkin'. There are songs he penned, as well as ones he's picked. It is clear that he knows his songwriting limits and is willing to use other writers' material and not force a whole CD of his own material. Whenever we have a barbecue or are sittin' 'round the fire pit, it is great just to put the entire Hank Jr. collection on shuffle and enjoy.

There are a couple songs here that sound a bit derivative of other recent songs -- "Mighty Oak Trees" reminds me of Van Zant's "Things I Miss the Most" and "High Maintenance Woman" reminds me of the Toby Keith song. Yes, they are different, but one has to admit that Hank took a cue from these other songs.

Bottom line,though, is that Hank Jr. keeps on producing great music.

Hank Williams Jr. is one of the giants of Country Music, and this album is a prime example of why he's so revered. The tunes are excellent, with his hit, "Red, White & Pink-Slip Blues," being my favorite. But, all of the tracks are great. It's a good mixture of country-blues and more up-beat tunes like "Mighty Oak Trees" and "High Maintenance Woman."

This is a great CD, one that is sure to please any fan of that great Country Music sound! I really like this album, and I don't hesitate to recommend it.

Just the like good ol' days, the best Hank Williams Jr. album I've heard in over twenty years, since the 1987 "Born To Boogie". 127 Rose Avenue delivers all the goods, Hank mixes it up with blues, rock, country, even a bluegrass number written by the man himself, "All The Roads". Five of the eleven songs on here are Williams' originals, and bocephus also recruited some fine songwriters for this project, featuring, "Red,White & Pink Slip Blues" - a version of the modern working man blues, "Forged By Fire" - brothers in arms, "127 Rose Avenue", - a ghost from the past. Hank Jr. also contributes some good written material, "Farm Song", this one rocks, as so does, "High Maintenance Woman", "Last Driftin' Cowboy" is a tribute to Hank Sr.'s steel player Don Helms. "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" highlights this album, it's no secret Hank Jr. is influenced with the blues, especially the Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins, this is Hank's very best impersonation of Hopkins' playing this classic Hank Williams standard, mesmerizing, including the signature Williams' yodel. It would be a real interesting listen to hear an album of Hank Jr. with voice and guitar only, unplugged, doing all Lightnin' Hopkins covers, let's hear it - Hank Williams Jr. is back, voice and guitar, backed by top-notch studio musicians with Paul Franklin on steel, 127 Rose Avenue is a newborn classic, another reviewer stated "his best yet", I'm almost inclined to agree, the audio will blow you away.

I picked up "127 Rose Avenue" today and I must say that Hank Jr. has never sounded better. I especially like the title track, "Red, White & Pink Slip Blues", "Last Driftin' Cowboy" and most especially, "Sounds Like Justice".

Hank is back and better than ever on "127 Rose Avenue"!

Nothing less than classic Hank on this disc!!! SOngs that have yet to be played on the radio are pretty darn good, all with the storyline lyrics that Hank fans have hung onto for years. A true rock in the ever changing sea of country music. A modern day classic, buy and enjoy!

I enjoyed this lastest CD by Hank Jr. very much. It's definitely Country Rock at it's finest and the first track "Farm Song" has powerful guitar playing which adds constant drive to the song. Couple that with Hank Jr. and you have a great album.