Music Reviewer.com reviews Hats Off To Hank
Posted by: paul in Buzz Cason, Daily Buzz, ReviewsReview by Liz Rowland
From the get-go, I was surprised at how retro the album Hats Off to Hank by Buzz Cason can sound. I imagine I would find this album in the dusty section of my father’s CD collection. It’s very old country/rock — something to listen to on the road to a camping trip. Cason has a strong, rugged voice, and a way with his harmonica. Some of his songs could be classics in the same vein as Eric Clapton or even Johnny Cash. The great sound is probably due to Cason’s experience. He has an impressive bio. He has done back up for Kenny Rogers, Jimmy Buffet, and even Elvis Presley. He’s been involved in the recording industry and a part of several musical groups over the years. Cason’s experience definitely shows. All in all this is a solid album but it would have been even better if he’d subtracted a few of the songs that don’t quite fit.
The classic sound to this album is a combination of the country/rock style, which is executed very well, and the expert songwriting. However, the best part of the album is Cason’s voice. It’s not hard to believe that he did back up for the pros because he can definitely hold his own. He has a very rough sounding voice but he emotes very well. Hey Now is a great introduction to this album. It’s a driving and catchy song. He sings with a scratchy, merciless vengeance: “So long it didn’t take too long/ woke up, it was all gone: forgiveness.” Somebody Told Me is a bit cheesy in comparison but it shows that Cason’s softer side really works. Wonderin is a very relatable song about the “what if’s” at the end of a relationship. Cason knows how to write a song but a few stick out as songs that don’t really belong on this album.
Other songs on Hats Off to Hank are awkward. The overall sound always seems classic; it’s the lyrics that are sometimes questionable. Some of these lyrics might seem “fun” to some, but they are excruciatingly basic compared to the ones that were so impressive. For instance, Barbeque should be used for an Outback commercial, not on this album. Also, Hooked Up With the Man doesn’t seem to fit. This is Cason’s only religious song but oddly enough, it’s not as poetic as many of his songs about relationships. He sings, “When life is something you can’t understand, you ain’t hooked up with the man.” I like the chorus and the song structure is cool but it just feels like he’s trying to make Christianity sound edgy…and he’s not succeeding. The sound in Black Man in Mississippi is weird. Cason’s voice is oddly distorted throughout the song. It sounds kind of cool but you can’t even decipher the lyrics and by the end of the song, it’s just annoying.
Overall, Hats Off to Hank was a pleasant surprise. For the most part this album could definitely become a classic. For those of you who are into Country Music (not pop country), I would highly recommend this album. Buzz Cason has produced mostly solid album that’s definitely going to make a lot of people happy.
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February 15th, 2008 at 6:39 pm