Music review: Hank Williams Jr.- 鈥業t鈥檚 About Time鈥�
Hank Williams Jr. returns with all his rowdy friends and proves that indeed a country boy can survive with the release of 鈥淚t鈥檚 About Time.鈥� Williams comes straight out the gate packing plenty of swagger on Neil Young鈥檚 鈥淎re You Ready for the Country鈥� featuring Eric Church.
On his first release since 2012鈥檚 鈥淥ld School New Rules,鈥� Williams sounds revitalized and on a mission to make a statement that old-school country is still in style and in demand.
On 鈥淭hose Days Are Gone,鈥� Williams reminds us just how much country music has changed and his desire to return to the days when David Allan Coe, Merle Haggard and George Jones received regular radio time. Williams may have a new record label, but he鈥檚 still got the same boisterous attitude that has made him a country legend.
Williams captures the slick swagger of ZZ Top for 鈥淒ress Like an Icon,鈥� complete with a blaring horn section and infectious backing vocals that add an ample amount of brash soul to this rousing track about the importance of playing and looking the part if you want to make a lasting impression.
On 鈥淕od and Guns,鈥� Williams leaves little doubt on where he stands about his faith and the right to bear arms. Party anthems such as 鈥淐lub U.S.A.鈥� and 鈥淭he Party鈥檚 On鈥� assure fans of the 66-year-old singer-songwriter that Bocephus is still rowdy, loud and country proud.
For me, the real surprise appears on 鈥淲rapped Up, Tangled Up in Jesus (God鈥檚 Got It).鈥� This fiery, soulful mixture of gospel, rock and country is a rousing testimony that gets down to the heart of the matter with Williams declaring, 鈥淛esus got his hook in me/I don鈥檛 wanna get loose.鈥�
On the sentimental 鈥淛ust Call Me Hank,鈥� Williams humbly shuns the superstar status while looking back over his career and giving credit to all the individuals who inspired and encouraged him.
鈥淏orn to Boogie鈥� closes out the album in grand style with the help of Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore and Brad Paisley adding additional fire power to the song that Williams first released back in 1987. With his latest effort, Williams proves now is the right time to raise a little ruckus.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard .com.