12 new musical compositions set to 12 previously unheard Hank Williams lyrics is what we have here and there really isn't one misstep. I'm sure there will be a few eye rolls and groans from the purists at the sight of Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow on the roster, but they just happen to deliver two of the stronger entries here.
As I said, it's all good. Thankfully, no one strays from the Hank Williams formula, though I just don't care for Jack White or Jakob Dylan. They do here what they do always. Jack sounding like Jack, skittish and grating. Jakob sounding like Jakob, snoozy and in need of a good noseblow. But I'm a fan of neither, so those two tracks are the least appealing.
Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, and Bob Dylan deliver my other three faves, on this mostly solid and smart release.
GET IT BELOW
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Notebooks-Hank-Williams/dp/B005F23NMK/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1317903630&sr=1-1
First time I heard the Norah Jones track was probably where most of you did, on an episode of Elvis Costello's Spectacle. I loved it then and I love it now.
6 comments:
I've listened to the CD. The Alan Jackson and Vince Gill tunes were quite nice, traditional country sounding, sort of the way Hank would have sounded. Levon Helm tune was pretty good. As for Jack White, you're right, very grating. Sort of wished someone else sang the song. What the hell is he doing on this CD anyway.
The Nora Jones was a fave when she did it way back on Spectacle.
All in all, not too bad.
I haven't heard this but I will nod to Hank.
My love of music was started by my parents.
The only thing they ever agreed on music taste wise was Hank Williams and I still see why.
The Nora is superb. She is an extremely intelligent singer. I'm biased towards Vince and Alan. I like Jack White so perhaps I hear him differently. I think he's the real deal. Not his best, but I like it. His record with Loretta Lynn, "Van Lear Rose" is one of my all time favorites. Do you not like "Portland, Oregon"? To each his own. I love my Hank, truly one of the greatest songwriters ever, so real, so unpretentious. BTW I love Alan Jackon's "Midnight in Montgomery" (don't know who wrote it), about Hank.
@Robin. I do love "Van Lear Rose." But I don't like what he did with the Wanda Jackson record, and I don't like The White Stripes. That said, when I saw the White Stripes live at Madison Square Garden, I left thinking it was one of the greatest live performances I have ever seen. But Jack White generally annoys me.
But, Jack White, more than anyone else on this fine CD, channels " Hank William's " voice...
Nice observation, Meanstreets. But I still don't like the track.
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