Customer Reviews

Damn Right, Rebel Proud [2 LP Vinyl w/ Bonus CD]

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hank III's highly anticipated new album "Damn Right, Rebel Proud" hit stores today and was well worth the wait. The album tightly packs classic country, rock, punk and metal into a mix that III is famed for (fondly called "hellbilly" by the fans.) The band lineup includes Joe Buck on stand up bass, Andy Gibson on stand up steel, Shawn McWilliams on drums and many other greats including some sic guitar pickin' from Johnny Hiland! We also hear some of the most ingenious and inspired III lyrics ever written.
The tracks are authentic, righteous and smoldering. Some songs are classic and upbeat enough for stepdancing. Also included are a few ballads so sweetly raw they darn near break your heart. III has surely inherited his granddads fervency.
Rather he has fought to maintain his own strength of character through years of battling an industry that would cream to have him sell out. III has remained humble and principled regardless of his potential for huge commercial success. God bless him.
The real blessing in his righteousness is III's persistence to write songs without the shackles of censorship. All his previous albums have been lyrically candid and musically pure. With each consecutive album, III further develops his original sound. Yet no track is over-mixed. No murky layers of effects for this purist. The quality remains clean as spring water.
With each album, III's lyrics become more personal and frankly telling. Yet "Damn Right, Rebel Proud" has more complexity and variety than his previous major releases. The songs are brutally honest ...whether autobiographical or otherwise. (After hearin out Joe the Plumber, McCain and Obama should get a load of the song "Workin' Man" in which III collaborated with Bob Wayne.)
These tunes are layered with genuine experiences and pain. I took a break between some tracks just to absorb it all (and throw back a couple shots of jack!) This is one of the most intimate albums ever recorded. After listening to "Damn Right, Rebel Proud" you'll feel like you spent one of those highly memorable evenings at a small bar with one very, very dear friend.

Some great Rebel country...if you like Rebel country. I loved III's other discs, but this one's sounding a little long in the tooth. You can only hear so many songs about Shelton "getting stoned", "doin' the best that (he) can" and "living off the land"....and then it begins to get a little boring. I really love his stuff, but this album just isn't doing it for me.

If you want some GREAT III music, get Straight to Hell. Very diverse, and some AWESOME traditional country on disc 2. You won't regret your purchase.

I purchased the vinyl edition of this album the day it came out, keeping up with my own long tradition of buying each Hank III album the first day I can. I spent the rest of the day walking around with a big grin on my face, knowing that I was about to descend into the work of someone who is one of the most innovative artists of our generation; not only in country, but in music in general. Upon popping the album into my computer to give it a listen, I knew that my faith in Hank III had not been misplaced. Shelton Hank Williams had done it again.
What is most surprising about DTRP is how much Hank has begun to play around with his sound. Although the album contains strains of the ramped up country we saw in Straight to Hell, many of the songs on this album slower than what many of us would have expected; amazingly, he accomplishes this without toning down the darkness and the fun which have always exemplified Hank III to many of his fans. In this album we are given some bona-fide tear jerkers, such as the amazing "Candidate for Suicide" and "Stoned & Alone", the moody "Three Shades of Black" (one of my favorite tracks, as a matter of fact) and some populist anthems reminicent of the works of such Country music masters as Merle Haggard, Johnny Paycheck and Johnny Cash, "Working Man" and "If You Can't Help Your Own".
For those of you are reading this review and are scared that Hank had his teeth pulled in this album, fear not. DS&RP contains such rebellious, sped up country such as "The Grand Ole Opry (Ain't So Grand) which takes a well justified stab at that great institution of Country Music, the Opry. Those of us old time fans will also be happy to see "6 Pack of Beer" finally pressed for a wide audience (the banjo picking is something to be heard!). Even better, Hank has finally managed to release some of his Country-Punk-Metal mixture known as Hellbilly. "H8 Line" and "Long Hauls and Close Calls" stand as the two best representations of this sound.
Damn Right and Rebel Proud is a varied album which shows a growing maturity and depth to Hank III's music. Its a must have for any fan of this artist, and a great jumping on point for those of you who have only heard the hushed whispering of his fans.
Hellbillies Unite!

This is a very good record. I enjoy hearing country music that sounds like country music. Some of the songs I like better than others but I like all the songs. You can't go wrong with this. This is the first Hank III album I've bought but not the last.

while listening to "Straight to hell" before DWRP was released. I wondered if Hank could capture the same vibe and atmosphere that "Straight to hell" put off. I thought the album was perfect. Both groundzero concerts were incredible! Needless to say this i had high hopes for this album.....

Today, (oct 21) i rushed out to pick up the album i knew would be just as good as straight to hell. After 10 minutes of listening i was shocked to think that it maybe better than STH. My advice to anybody who liked the previous album, pick this one up and let it be the album that u inhereit alcohol poisoning from!
*pick up the gun dear and put me asleep*
Reinstate Hank!

This is another great country album from Hank III, but he also has added a little bit of his hellbilly style songs on here as well. This is his follow up to "Straight To Hell" which in my opinion is the greatest country album ever and on "Damn Right, Rebel Proud" he continues to push the limits of what country music is and what it can be. Songs like "Long Hauls and Close Calls" which combines country & metal, "3 Shades Of Black", and "Punch, Fight, F@#$" would scare the hell out of those top 40 artists.

3 is back and he's done it again. Speaking the truth that no one wants to hear. I've said it before and it's important to say here: Truth is the toughest obstacle. Pullin' no punches and lettin em land where they may, 3 says what needs to be said and everyone needs to turn their ear to listen closely. This album is more diverse in its content, but it's still raw, honest, real country. He hits his mark dead between the eyes on each track and his mood is more unstable and reckless on this record than any of his previous efforts, but that can only be a sign of his genuine anger and frustration at the current state of the cannibalistic music industry and the battles he is fighting to gain ground without compromising his soul - which he does in spades! Buy this album and your favorite six pack and you'll be in good company sitting alone by the stereo.

I have to give HANK III credit for producing one great album after another since his official solo debut, RISIN' OUTLAW in 1999. HANK III holds your attention with his pure, raw, uncensored, honest brand of Country Music. There's always an ongoing curiosity about what he will opine & have to say, through his music, on any album he issues - you just gotta have it! The most impressive and compelling elements in HANK III's music and artistry, are his attitude, unrestrained execution, and he's the ultimate 'hick' vocalist. Sometimes his songs take unexpected twists and turns, which make his music the more captivating. Hank III's songs will make you appreciatively laugh out loud, put a huge smile on your face, and even cry. Folks, his music is too much FUN! He doesn't follow music industry rules at all[which is what makes him so appealing] - he creates, raises and sets the bar to an all time high. Music brings Hank III's devils and saints all out, and justifies living in sin, no regrets. Call him and his music punkabilly-hickabilly-hellbilly-honky punk- or whatever you please, HANK III's music is authentic, he's a great story teller in song, and he's the most entertaining real thing, ya'll.

Great Music, Better Than The Last Album ! I Would Have Given It 5 Stars But The Cd Case Is A Slip Case Made Out Of Cardboard ! At Least It Could Have Been A Digipack Case ! I Am A Collecter Of All Kinds Of Music And This Cardboard Case Crap All Artists Are Doing Sucks ! So Buy The Disc And Buy A Plastic Jewel Case For Storage And You Will Have One Hell Of A CD !!!!!!!

I'm a candidate for telling you this album's really great but what in the Helen you expectin from a son whose purdy much irate every day when he hears all that garbage on the air thank my god and country good ol Hank is finally here. Now you might think this review is kinda full of it but I got to be reminding you that every song's a hit, its like casually he drops em from his left hand and lobs em out the park each time before he makes his stand. Now I've seen him several times play live and don't you know its a dam blast I can earnestly assure you all that he is here to last and even if one day he goes and pulls it off alone I know we're gonna miss him and we'll feel it in our bones but his melodies and lyrics will keep echoin in our heads it'll be a better life worth livin singin ol Hank's songs instead. That's a country song I done just wrote 4U Hank. But seriously we want you around to keep putting out these dope albums. These are a motley posse of hard songs right here folks. Now some of you older'n us might not appreciate some of Hank's bad mouth on this here thing, and I understand, but listen here, check some of that music. There's some real down home country fiddle playing on this thing, enough to make any old rebel singer proud. The defiance here is real enough. Hank'll never make the upgrade to commercial airwaves and there's a dam fine thing too if you don't mind me saying so. Because if you'll pardon me Ma'am, Sir, but this plasticized musical industry has just about sucked enough outta my soul for now you hear. I can't rightly see as how you couldn't claim the same. Just bend a corner of that ear away from the occasional vulgarities that might be spat your way, cuz'n this here music is the real deal m'k. Why don't you just go ahead and live a little, its aight. I dares ya. Put this puppy in your music player and hit the spin button. You know you want to. Get ready to boot scoot and boogie cuz Hank's got a little bit of everything in here for yall.

I particularly enjoyed purchasing the vinyl record of this album, as it comes with a copy of the CD, as a lot of vinyl releases are beginning to do nowadays. This is a real gem to add to my collection too and its a dam fine thing vinyl is making a resurgence. Well its obvious it never went away really and that's because it is the real deal, playing back musical compositions with more of their organic superstructure intact. Keep your iAccessories but never forget the true source of recorded music pleasure pumps loud and clear through your diamond needle and awesome record player/receiver/speakers. Keepin it real, remember how to feel...