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The Truth Will Set You Free
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James Hand Album Review:
Mr. D.J. Wont you please play, a real Country song? at 2006-03-31
Like Dale Watson, the man who wrote the words to the title of this review, James Hand makes real Country Music. It doesnt sound like Dales but its mmm mmm good.Now, the artwork and cover design are a different story. There is lots of black and everything is typeset in uppercase. There are no pictures of the players and credits are so sparse that unless you are familiar with the guitar playing styles of Will Indian and Redd Volkert already, chances are you will be wondering who played what. There are no lyrics either but after a few playings youll know every word to every song by heart.For the uninitiated, Redd plays the guitar licks that sound like no human could play them and Will plays like the guitar teacher that you wish had taught you.
James Hand Album Review:
James, Not Hank at 2006-07-29
Let us not burden Mr. Hand with comparisons to Hank. Should we put that burden on anyone? Hank had a rough enough line trying to carry that one.Let us just say, that with a few exceptions, this is as good a colletion of songs a weve heard. If we get another one like this from him, wouldnt that be a treat?If not, thanks James, you really reached me with this one.
James Hand Album Review:
Country Music Like It Used To Be at 2006-07-25
James Hand is a fresh as an evening breeze and as old as the hills that those breezes caress. Evoking memories of Hank Williams, he has little to do with the music that comes out of Nashville today.A throwback to other days long past, he will leave you crying in your beer. The Truth Will Set You Free. He believes it and after playing this CD, you will believe it as well.
James Hand Album Review:
James Hand is the Real Thang at 2006-07-15
I had never heard of James Hand until I read an article in a Chicago paper about his upcoming performance at the Old Town Music and Roots festival praising him as a traditional old style country singer in the honky tonk vein with comparisons to Hank Williams, Ray Price and so on. So with a skeptical attitude I went on down to the outdoor show. Most modern country singers that sing old honky tonk come across as retro and do not even come close to that very important needed southern vocal hillbilly accent that is the soul of the whole sound plus the lyrical writing that is so clever and ironic in that country music way. George Jones is the last living artist it seems that can sing in this way naturally. Well when James Hand walked on the stage with his band an introduced himself I new I was in for a surprise and boy was I. When he started singing I was stunned and amazed how authentic and original he sounded. For the whole show I did not move from my spot as I watched a rare performance of true Texas country original singing and playing in that old Texas country hillbilly popping swinging sound that I could only find from old records of long ago. Take note he does not sound retro at all but truly unique to this time and place. At the end he received a couple of encores and sold out of all the CDs that was brought for the show. His new album further reflects this authentic sound and his unique personality shines through. His voice has that warm aged sound that blends well with his lyrical phrasing. His song writing is up there with best in country music. To me his vocals sound somewhere between Hank Williams and George Jones, but with a voice all his own. James Hand is the real thang
James Hand Album Review:
Real country music is live and well... at 2006-07-08
...in the hands of James Hand. Check this album out if you have been wondering where the good music went when it left the charts. It ended up right here. Must be one of the best releases of the year.
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Evil Things
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James Hand Album Review:
James Hand American Treasure at 2006-02-05
We saw James Hand in Austin two years ago and he jammed. The albums are the next best thing to seeing him live. Hearing James is like hearing a vibrant burst of the past.
James Hand Album Review:
One Great Singer and An All Around Great Guy at 2002-11-08
James Hand continues to define what country music is and ought to be. I have the honor and priviledge of knowing and playing music with James Hand and I consider him a true and trusted friend. Mr. Hands unique singing style and truly sincere personality fill me with a level of comfort when I am around him. His heart-wrenching ballads continue to make me shudder, the first I hear them and each time thereafter. The quirky up-beat songs get my blood going and make me want to tap my toes. I can honestly say that if you love good country music and appreciate having a man bear his soul to you, then you should definitely consider purchasing this CD or any other which bears the name James Hand on it.
James Hand Album Review:
Real country here at 2002-10-08
I first saw James Hand in his hometown of Tokio when I was 18. Id never heard anything like it before and still havent. If you close your eyes, youd think it WAS Hank Williams, Sr. His songs come from a place where not many people can reach, and definitely not a place that those pseudo-country, Nash-vegas pop artists can reach. This is what country music was once all about and still is for some people.
James Hand Album Review:
Got soul? at 2002-08-20
James Hand, with his distinctive quivering voice, has created a country music masterpiece. The soul of country music has found its home. I just hope its not his last.
James Hand Album Review:
Got soul? at 2002-08-20
James Hand, with his distinctive quivering voice, has created a country music masterpiece. The soul of country music has found its home. I just hope its not his last.
James Hand Album Editorial:
Texas honky-tonker James Hand sinks his quavering Hank Williams-style yowl into songs of broken hearts busted dreams and beer joints where happy hour is a long way from happy. What sets him apart from all the other would-be Hanks though is the depth of gloom in his songs and the desperate intensity of his voice. In Hands dark night of the soul even the uptempo numbers have a hangdog despondency to them that speaks of sleepless nights and hours of self-destructive torment. This is modern-day working-class Texas country that makes efforts by fresh-faced singer-songwriters seem like fabric-softener commercials. Its raw searing pitch-black stuff coming to you direct from some haunted honky-tonk Hades in the Lone Star State. Jerry Renshaw
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