Damn Right, Rebel Proud

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Hank III keeping it real
I am glad to see Hank III hasn’t changed. He might not be for everybody but he has a style that no other artist has.

I’d a-givin’ 2.5 stars but they wouldn’t let me. There’s been a few honest reviews by fans without their blinders on who said this record sounds like rushed outtakes and B-sides of Straight to Hell and I whole- heartedly agree. This is Shelton just ridin’ a wave, let’s call it Straight to Hell pt.2.

Is it worth buying, YES! It it his greatest work, not even close. The screaming behind III’s voice might work live, but on wax it just plain sucks, that dude is annoying! It sounds like some of it is recorded crappy on purpose, unlike Straight to Hell which sounds like it was recorded crappy cuz that’s the best they could do. If I wanna hear a band with a good GG/punk/hellbilly vibe I’ll go listen to AntiSeen. I listen to III fer some good ol’ fashioned country music.

He needs to go with his original plan which was to dedicate one record to country and one to hellbilly. They just don’t mix well on one record. In my opinion he peaked on Lovesick, Broke & Driftin’ and has been coastin’ ever since…not that that’s a bad thing, I just have high expectations from such a talented M.F.-er!

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!

1.0 out of 5 stars
ZERO STARS
Anyone who would dedicate a song to GG Allin doesn’t deserve your money or mine. GG Allin thought that molesting kids was a good idea.

5.0 out of 5 stars
The best country out there
I love this guy he is hard core country the way country should be not not that bubble gum crap you here today. I cant wait for more