"Outlaw country is all about doing the best you can with what you were
dealt in life. No excuses. No regrets. In that way Hellbound Glory and
their self-described “scumbag country” are the archetype of the modern
(upper-case) Outlaw movement. Compared to the current crop of Nashville
(lower-case) “outlaws”, Hellbound Glory has a look and sound that makes
you believe that, even if they may have not personally lived the life in
their songs, they very likely have been close to someone who has. They
describe the life of those on the lower end of the economic spectrum
with intimate detail without resorting to cliches and stereotypes
(cough…BrantleyAldean…cough).
From start to finish, the characters in Damaged Goods are
people that are easy to relate to. Like many of us, they are trying
their best to make the most of their lives, but despite their efforts
they seem destined to fail. At times they fight the inevitable to their
last breath (“Knocked off That Horse”), other times they accept it and
enjoy the ride (“Bastard Child”, “Till the Lights Go Out”). But in the
end, they realize that no matter the situation you were born in to, what
you do with it is your own choice and within your own control (“You
Better Hope You Die Young”).
As with Hellbound Glory’s previous releases, musically they are once
again very solid. They let their musicianship shine on the more
lighthearted, uptempo romps, but keep it subdued on the ballads.
Lyrically, they paint such vivid portraits you can almost smell the
stale beer and burnt crack. Not to mention they wrote one of my favorite
lines of the year: “If your gone I’ll be a goner/I’m gonna hit the
ground like a shot down B-2 bomber” (“Gonna Be a Goner”)
This isn’t the type of country you’re gonna hear on your urban,
soccer mom listening, mini van driving, corporate controlled, mega-Clear
Cumulus radio station. And that’s a good thing. Listening to
country-lite helps keep the masses off the Valium. Keep the real stuff
for those of us that can handle it.
Definitely
Essential Listening."
- Sean Kelly
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| Hellbound Glory reviewed by Nine Bullets Radio |
