Customer Reviews

Halfway to Hazard

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am what you would call a "buffet listener" of music. I love a little of everything from Classical to Punk, Oldies to Reggae...you name it there's a little something of it in my CD collection. I had noticed recently that one area of my music selection was sadly lacking and that's good ol' Southern Country Rock. There just hasn't been much of it done (at least not done well) in quite a while. A friend of mine took me to see Tim and Faith recently and because she is punctual to a fault we actually made it to see the opening act. I was SO glad we did. These guys I had never heard of came out and completely rocked the stage with the simple and pure entertainment of two guys and two guitars. I found myself (and everyone around me) going "Who are these guys again!". I pre-ordered their debut CD the very next day.

I have taken this CD with me from my bathroom player while I get ready in the morning, straight to my car for the ride to work, all day at my desk and back in the car again to drive home. Each song just gets better and better. The melodies are strong, the vocals are spine tingling and the overall affect is intoxicating. It's all I can do not to sing at my desk at the top of my lungs. There's not a bad track in the bunch. Thanks so much guys for bringing back a little rock to good (and not trite and twangy) country.

If this effort is any indication of what's to be expected from the boys from Hazard I hope to be taking my kids to see them one day when they've become true "Classic Country and Rock" stars.

The other reviews on this CD tell the story- THESE GUYS ARE THE BEST THING TO COME OUT OF NASHVILLE IN 10 YEARS!! This duo isn't "halfway" doing anything. It's going ALL-THEWAY to #1..It's a struggle to find a negative review. Everyone who has listened to them loves them, except for the bubblgum kids that worship the Jonas bros. Thank God they don't like it! Seriously, if u don't buy this cd, you WILL regret it! It is sure to be #1 and end up as a classic. Every retailer in my city and neighboring cities, is SOLD OUT! In their hometown of Hazard, the local Walmart had lines and made regular 15 min. announcements of the availability of it over the store's sound system. It's not that feverish here yet........and I do mean "YET."

From "Daisy" to "Got Back Up" there's not a song on this that I don't absolutely love. I play it all day, every day! This duo has amazing harmony with gritty, honest lyrics, and the lead singer's tone is , for lack of a better word, beautiful! Just when you are inspired by a haunting ballad, they jolt you with their version of southern rock- country style! It's a mix of southern rock and country, and it works!!

Tim Mcgraw and Byron Gallimore produced this cd, and what a tremendous job they did. If anyone knows great music, these 2 do! On the Soul2Soul Tour, this duo sounded like a full band, even when it was just two men, two guitars! The audience, including me, was mesmerized.

Don't let this amazing collection of songs slip away. Order it while you can. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED! A closing word that describes this cd better than any other-------WOW !!!!!!!!!!

These boys are the real thing. They write, have great harmony, they rock and sing ballads that make you want to cry. I have bought this cd already and am doing so again. I especially like "I'm Tired." It is a song anyone who is in a relationship can relate to. I have seen them in concert and can say that there is no "auto-tuning" when they play live. They are just that good.

This is a fabulous cd. H2H are honest, edgy, country-rock...just GREAT music. You can hear & feel the emotion in every song. I have not taken this cd out of my player since the day I got it - which is the day it came out 8/14/07.
Whether you're a long time country music fan or you're new to country, this cd is definitely for you. There is not a bad song on it.
If you ever get the chance to see H2H live, GO, they are FANTASTIC live - energetic, entertaining, and both David & Chad have excellent voices.
Just buy the cd, I promise you will not regret it.

These guys call themselves Halfway to Hazard because they are from my hometown of Hazard Kentucky. Tim Mcgraw must have really liked these guys to take them under his wing and produce their debut cd. The current single "Daisy" really didn't get enough playing time to give it justice.It's a really good song and these guys really sound good together. Great Harmony on their honky tonk songs really give ya something to tap your feet too.
Give them a try, they are good. There is some language on the cd that might offend some people which was a bit of a shock to me but people these days are always pushing the limit. I'm gonna support my hometown boys cause well, ya know, they are from home but honestly I would have bought the cd anyway if I had heard it first or at least had a review to read that gave it a decent review. So there ya have it, buy it and support these guys. Hell they are touring with Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill and their audience is getting a treat live.

Ok, I'm gonna say something first that will be later used to make a point: This is my second review of this album. My first review was apparently not posted because of language content. This is perfectly understandable; Amazon.com is a site open to all ages, and so the content posted on it should be monitored. I am not upset or offended. I am, however, amused, and here is why: my review wasn't posted because it might offend somebody. Let's refer to a lyric in the last song on this album, "Welcome to Nashville": "Cut some outside songs and you can't go wrong/They won't offend nobody/And they're three minutes long".

Not to say that David Tolliver and Chad Warrix are blazing new ground, careless of who they offend. A lot of what's on this record is stuff you've heard before. The thing is...you haven't heard it quite like this. The opening track, Jeffrey Steele's "Countrified" (and one of only two tracks the duo didn't write), is a song we've heard recorded by both Steele himself and Clay Walker. It's basically a hick anthem, not one of Steele's best efforts; but the Hazard boys (you knew it was coming, admit it) rock the hell out of it. Later in the album, on "Country 'Til the Day We Die," we get a hick anthem that takes things a step further than Jason Aldean ever dreamed: "You call us hicks from the sticks/We don't really give a s***".

The rest of the album offers up some lyrical poetry seldom scene in radio-ready music. "Die By My Own Hand" offers a new look at the suicide song; "Devil and the Cross" tells the age-old battle of Sunday morning and Saturday night, done with infectious harmonies and engaging lyrics ("I guess I was way too wild/To be the son of a preacher man/One foot on a solid rock/And one on the sinking sand"). "Taking Me On" opens with a lyrical masterpiece reminiscent of Dylan ("You're the angel in my pocket/You're that whisper in my head"). And "Welcome to Nashville" is a downright scathing look (with a honky-tonk melody) at the country world today, with such venom as "It ain't been this bad since Conway had him a perm" and "You look like you sound good if you know what we're saying" and "Stay where you are/Play your local bar/You'll make more money/Won't sleep in your car."

All in all, Halfway to Hazard's debut can be described as a record grounded in country music, but with the attitude of a rock record. Tolliver and Warrix are to be commended for stepping out there and delivering a message with their very first record; few artists have the guts to do that. Likewise, kudos go to vetern producers Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw, for lending their names to the project. Halfway to Hazard may not be a brand new revolution, but they do have one promise to make: things are bound to get interesting.

OK. So let's get this out in the open from the beginning. I'm not a fan of country music. I can tolerate it, but none of my station presets are country if you know what I mean. More country music just means more dogs run over, more wives leaving their husbands, more husbands drinking and big truck lyrics right? I'm more of a rock kind of fellow: AC/DC, Metallica, Def Leppard, etc.

I heard these guys with Tim and Faith (I got free tickets and took some friends) as they were the opening act. Just two guys on the stage with guitars singing their hearts out. Correction, singing their country hearts out. The first song they played was good. The 2nd was really good. By the fourth and final song I leaned over and told my wife we are buying this CD when it comes out. She knows I don't do country and was amazed. Came home that night after the show, pulled it up on Amazon and it was delivered today.

I can happily report that these guys are really, really good...for country :o) Seriously though, they are already in my Zen and will be getting just as much airplay through it as the bands I mentioned I like (listening to them as I type this as a matter of fact). Solid beats and strong lyrics help the CD to remain strong throughout.

Why only 4 stars?? I just don't have it in me to give a country CD 5 stars...so for me, 4 is a perfect 100 score for these guys. By the way, Countrified ROCKS!

I heard "Daisy" and liked it. Then I listened to the rest of the album and loved every song. There's not many albums I can say that about. These guys have an awesome sound and they write great songs.

I've seen them perform live in Jackson Ky, and it was a great performance, if you have a chance to see them live go for it, there great, a must see and hear!!!! P.s i'm from Connecticut, and hope to see them again.

If you ever get a chance to see them live, don't pass it up. Just attended a concert and they played the hearts out. It wasn't all just country either, a little ACDC and ZZ Top for good measure. I don't like country and wasn't expecting much, but I loved watching and hearing these guys.