Sep 25, 2012

Album Review: John D. Hale Band - More Than I Can Handle


I get a ton of albums for review by both snail mail and digital means, many passing my tolerance standards for less than 4 songs, so it's always a treat when something I didn't personally seek out… finds me.

That was the case with John D. Hale Band's More Than I Can Handle. Before I got the CD in the mail, I'd heard of the band but never heard a note of their music. I'm happy to say I've finally made the acquaintance.

More Than I Can Handle is an intelligent, well-crafted collection of songs that runs the thematic gambit of the joys and hardships of real country people. The title song weighs in on the difficulties of farming without painting in the broad, romantic strokes that only someone who doesn't really listen to music likes. 

"Sin for Sin" is an outlaw anthem that never once says the word. "My unrestrained morals have sentenced me to roam"…think you'd ever hear Justin Moore sing that line?

"Desperate People" chronicles the tragedy of a man with "a mind like a loaded gun" who plans to rob an old man who'd never notice the money gone. Things of course don't go as intended because "desperate people do desperate things."

Across 8 originals and 2 covers, the John D. Hale Band never once bends to commercial whims or lets their artistry slip. The vocals are excellent and the playing is superb. More Than I Can Handle is a powerful country album with red dirt leanings that should give it broad appeal. It also immediately makes the band a force to be reckoned with on the Americana scene.

Highly recommended if you enjoy any of these artists even a little: Mike Ethan Messick, Justin Haigh, Charlie Robison, Clay Walker, Chris Knight, Jason Eady.


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More Than I Can Handle can be purchased on iTunes and at Amazon.com.

3 comments:

  1. Great review of a great album from a great band!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great review - I also tabbed all the songs out at Countrytabs.com - You can download all of John's CD's at www.ourtracks.com - if you are looking for an alternative to the Itunes machine - band still gets paid is the part I do it for! Come check us out!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great cd. Loving the co writing of John and Jesse from the band Powder Mill.

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