Hank Williams III Album: “Straight to Hell [Clean]”

I'm an old fart. I bought 78's of Hank Sr. I had vinyl, then CD's, of Hank Jr. I liked 'em both, for their likeness and their differences. In Hank III, who I never knew existed until I saw this cd here on Amazon, is living proof that the hank legacy is real. This is one frikkin great cd. I love it!

This album is incredible. It's everything that's great about his other two albums but with a newfound level of independence he found by recording it himself (on a simple $500 digital recorder anyone could buy from a music store).

Every track has it's little surprises - being the first-ever country album with a parental advisory sticker (that I know of anyway), it's still kind of funny to hear him throw out a random swear when talking about the sheriff's wife or Kid Rock.

The quality of the music on Disc 1 is nothing short of amazing. Certain passages of music made my jaw drop at the sheer intensity of the playing and the passion Hank's band put behind this thing. Though it was recorded by Hank and two of his friends alone, the sound quality is great - country the way it should be, from the heart, without all the studio gloss they use on Britney Spears albums.

Disc 2 is something else entirely. Hank describes it in an interview as being "done wrong," just "having fun" with his band. It's two tracks, a regular song and the second being one long montage of atmospheric noises like trains, slowed down music, and some fun stuff thrown in like the first Hank III cover of a Hank Sr. song, "I Could Never Be Ashamed of You." I won't ruin all the surprises for you but it's a heck of a listen.

If you're already a III fan, you should already know how good this is. If you're a pop-country music fan, know and understand that this ain't Big and Rich, Kenny Chesney, or Tim McGraw. Hank III is real country, done his way, and if you don't like it, he doesn't care.

But if you know anything about country music, you should like it.

This is Curb records pathetic attempt to get more $$ from one of the artists who have left their label. It is a stripped down version of what is an otherwise INCREDIBLE album. It was released several years ago to rave reviews, and has been one of Hank III's strongest albums to date. It's rowdy, it's raw, and it is most definitely IN YOUR FACE!! If you don't get easily offended, and would like to hear the ORIGINAL version of this album, please purchase the UNEDITED VERSION. And check out hank3.com for all of his new music that was released on his OWN label. I am not trying to slam Amazon. They have nothing to do with the release of this "sugar coated" version of Straight to Hell. 5 stars for Hank 3...1 star for this ploy from Curb Records to get MORE $$ from someone with whom they had a shaky business relationship. Shame on you, Curb records...SHAME ON YOU!!!

To John Gervickas (Cape Coral, Florida United States):

Neither Hank Sr. nor Hank Jr. had the first name of Hank - it was their MIDDLE names. Hank Sr. was born Hiram Hank Williams. Hank Jr. was born Randall Hank Williams. Hank III was born Shelton Hank Williams.

Yes, he started out as a punk and metal musician. He didn't sell out to cash in on his family name. He still plays hardcore music. Go to one of his shows - he plays a set of old time country and a set of metal. But keep in mind that the sound of his country music is true to the roots of classic country. He doesn't prance around and try to sound like "Bon Jovi with a fiddle". He keeps his country and his rock seperate while staying true to the attitude of both. Most old time country was more similar in attitude to punk and metal than it was to modern pop country.

Also, if you're going to criticize his songwriting, try not to misquote the lyrics. Pay attention to songs such as Low Down, Things You Do To Me, D. Ray White, the rest of Not Everybody Likes Us (besides the line you misquoted), Angel of Sin, and Lousianna Stripes. Most of the more immature lines on the album are meant to be ironic; again, if you had followed Hank III or been to a show, you wouldn't have missed the point.

Anyway, next time do your homework before writing such an ignorant and misinformed review. By the way, I searched for your CD on here but couldn't find anything. Based on your criticims, I figured you would have released an audio masterpiece that would represent the pinnacle of Western composition and lyricism.

Hank III's last two albums were great, but this album is much more the way Hank wanted it than the last two, and that sound really comes through. His punk roots really shine through, even when paired with the rather un-punk steel guitar and fiddle.

I wonder if the last reviewer, who mocked III for changing his name, realizes that Hank Williams Sr.'s real name was Hiram Hank Williams, Hank Jr.'s name was Bocephus Hank Williams and III's real name is Sheldon Hank Williams. i would say, compared to his patrimony, III hasn`t changed his name at all to "make some dough". Furthermore, it is my opinion that III "ignored" country for some time because if he hadn`t, it would have been offered to him on a silver platter due to his heritage, and therefore wouldn`t have been real. So he avoided it for some time, pursuing other things for awhile to live a real life, one capable of producing real lyrics and sounds of heartache, hellraising and trouble. III's the real deal, and this album is excellent proof of that.

Buy it.