"名盤請負人"ザ・ブラック・キーズのダン・オーバックがプロデュース!
ハンク・ウィリアムズの息子ジュニアの2022年作は、ヴィンテージなルーツロックサウンドで現代に伝える名匠ダン・オーバックのプロデュース!全体的には、ダーディな歪み成分がイカしたゴキゲンなロッキン・ブルーズなサウンド!ルースなリズム隊とスライド・ギターが絡みあい呪文のように繰り返されるリフが堕落に導いていくようでブルーズ本来の悪魔性が味わえます!(ドラムはジュニア・キンブロウの息子、キニー)ブギー調(2)かにもシカゴな(3)(5)(6)ジミー・リード風味(4)、エルモア・ジェームス調(11)、B.B.キングで有名な(8)「Rock Me Baby」、弾き語りの(1)などシンプルだが奥深いグルーヴ!またブルーズ進行でない2曲(9)(10)がニール・ヤングの『今宵その夜』的なダウナーな泣き節でいい味だしてます。 (C)新宿店:村越 辰哉
タワーレコード(2022/09/16)
Dan Auerbachs Easy Eye Sound label and studio specializes in giving blues veterans another shot at cutting something down-and-dirty, and thats precisely what the producer/guitarist does with Hank Williams, Jr.: he takes Bocephus all the way back to the blues at the foundation of his music. Working with a band featuring slide guitarist Kenny Brown, bassist Eric Deaton, and drummer Kinney Kimbrough (son of Delta house-rocker Junior Kimbrough, one of Auerbachs idols), Auerbach keeps the session loose, dirty, and greasy, giving Hank Jr. plenty of space to snarl, boogie, and curse. Yes, the Parental Advisory sticker on Rich White Honky Blues is earned, but its impossible to imagine a listener younger than Auerbach being enticed by this gnarled blues as its the sound of a cranky old braggart who almost seems annoyed that he can still muster the energy to sing with conviction. Amazingly, thats precisely what Hank Jr. does on Rich White Honky Blues. Since hes not quite in the drivers seat here -- its his show but the Easy Eye Sound crew sets the course and the pace -- the band can settle into a nasty groove and Hank can sing whatever he wants. Usually, he sings about himself, often in the guise of his invented persona "Thunderhead Hawkins," and while that braggadocio can sometimes be wearying on his country records, its amusing, even infectious, here thanks to a band who seem to be having a whale of a time getting down with this ornery old git. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Rovi