Album Review: Rodney Hayden – 12 Ounce World
Written, produced, recorded, and released by the artist and his band, Rodney Hayden’s homespun 12 Ounce World is a truly independent project in every sense of the word. And who needs a high-powered record label or a big recording budget when you can make music like this on your own? 12 Ounce World may not be a musical revelation, but it very well may be indicative of the coming music industry revolution–it is, after all, the finest self-made country album I’ve ever heard.
A brilliantly mixed album that is underlined throughout by the standout guitar work of bandmate Matt Slusher, Hayden’s latest is one of a rare breed, so good at certain points that it’s easy to forget you’re listening to the songs of a regionally successful Texas act and not a country music legend.
On “Huntsville,” Hayden sings about guilt, death and loneliness with a booming delivery that channels Cash, and the song itself wouldn’t be at all out of place beside the genre’s finest prison songs.
Likewise, “Lonesome, Heartbroke, and Blue,” which features a mournful, howling vocal performance and a haunting steel guitar track, is an eerie dirge that would, in any other time during country music’s tumultuous history, surely be a hit. As it stands, any artist who is interested in cutting real country music should take a listen to this song. Are you paying attention Alan Jackson?
Because “Hunstville” and “Lonesome…” soar to such heights, though, the rest of 12 Ounce World pales in comparison. Those two songs prove that Hayden can be a truly great songwriter, but the remainder of the album is comprised of capable songs that seem to find him settling for less than he’s capable of. Hayden has a gritty voice cut from the cloth of Texas’ finest Honky Tonk singers, but he doesn’t have an especially nuanced voice, and so as good as much of the album is, it often finds him slipping into a laid-back groove that teeters between consistency and monotony as the record wears on.
That’s especially true since 12 Ounce World isn’t particularly successful in terms of creating definition between tracks, a shame considering the fact that there are a number of truly wonderful songs here that just get stuck in the mud. “Something Stronger Than Me” is a song that should punch but only jabs, while the Bakersfield-powered “Last Plane Out of Tulsa” should charge out of the gate, but instead only saunters.
The truth, however, is that a jabbing or sauntering Rodney Hayden song is still quite good, even if it falls short of the singer’s ultimate potential. There is a uniquely country heaviness to Hayden’s voice that is currently unmatched in the genre, and the thick drawl that wraps around songs like “Pour a Drink” and “That’s How Long My Love Will Last” is a delight to the ears of a fan of a kind country music that, unlike the genre’s contemporary mainstream, actually reflects the sounds and subjects of country living.
That is, after all, one of Hayden’s greatest strengths; when he sings, the sound that comes out of his mouth is that of Texas–big, ragged, rough around the edges, and possessing both an indelible mysteriousness and a pervading charm.
Recommended Tracks: “Hunstville“, “Lonesome, Heartbroke, and Blue“, “Darling I’m Falling For You“
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Trackback URI for this postDecember 9, 2008
[...] Rodney Hayden – 12 Ounce World A brilliantly mixed album that is underlined throughout by the standout guitar work of bandmate Matt Slusher, Hayden’s latest is one of a rare breed, so good at certain points that it’s easy to forget you’re listening to the songs of a regionally successful Texas act and not a country music legend. — Jim Malec [...]
December 18, 2008
[...] Rodney Hayden will be recording his first live album at The Wildcat Saloon in McCoy, TX this Saturday. He’ll perform songs from each of his four albums, a few choice covers and a handful of new songs. (On a related note, read Jim Malec’s review of Hayden’s recent album, 12 Ounce World.) [...]
14 Comments
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November 25, 2008 at 9:59 am Permalink
I guess I’m glad they put the budget into making it sound good rather than finding a decent font for the album cover.
November 25, 2008 at 10:25 am Permalink
I caught Hayden at a songswap with trent summar and jp knowles this summer, and really dug his stuff, even though he isnt as well-known or his stuff isnt as covered as the others were. Haters of “Red Dirt” (which even I can be sometimes), need to listen to this record and know that not all bands from Texas want to sound like Cross Canadian Ragweed…
November 25, 2008 at 4:25 pm Permalink
Well that makes sense, since Cross Canadian Ragweed is from Oklahoma. Anyway, I’ve been a fan of Rodney Hayden since “The Real Thing” released in 2002. This is without a doubt pure Texas Country music. Thanks for featuring him here.
November 25, 2008 at 7:13 pm Permalink
I have an Australian friend who sent me copies of a couple of Rodney’s early albums but they just didn’t draw me in. I can appreciate the quality and presentation of Rodney’s music, but it just doesn’t flip any switches in my weathered brain. I find 1100 Springs and Aaron Watson more interesting musically as far as Texas traditionalists go these days. Regarding under appreciated male artists from Texas, I like Lane Turner’s unreleased Warner’s album about as good as any I’ve heard. Lane was robbed when he didn’t win “The Next GAC Star”. Gosh darn it…..
November 26, 2008 at 8:51 am Permalink
Amazace:
Just so you know, the term “Red Dirt” (as lame of a lable as it is), refers to both Oklahoma AND Texas artists, also, you cant deny the influx of new acts inside of that scene that are clearly aiming to imitate what’s already being done and not initiate a new and unique sound of their own.
November 26, 2008 at 2:35 pm Permalink
I really like the term “Red Dirt”. However some Texas Roots artist claim that’s an Oklahoma term. Since Imitation(as it were) is a form a flattery, I welcome all Texas/Red Dirt artist onto the scene. It’s great music done by some great singer/songwriters, and musicians. So really if you want acts that are clearly aiming to imitate what’s already being done, look no further than Mainstream Pop Country. That’s what it’s there for.
Rick, I really like Eleven Hundred Springs and Aaron Watson too. If you haven’t already, you might want to check out Roger Wallace and Duncan Earl Walters as well.
November 26, 2008 at 2:52 pm Permalink
Amazace,
I dont see the difference between lame imitations, regardless of who they are “complimenting”. Whether it’s an imitation of nashville pop or “red dirt” music is not the point really. Who cares about flattery if it’s merely a bland retread of something thats already been done a gazillion times. You may have misunderstood my earlier comment, as I am not looking for imitations, but actually pointing them out and saying that just because people may like “red dirt” doesnt mean everything that claims to fit under that label is good. By you claiming to be ok with imitators in the red dirt scene, you cant really bash on imitators in nashville all that effectively.
November 26, 2008 at 3:53 pm Permalink
I never claimed all Red Dirt music is good, but I’ll take it anyday over Mainstream music. Especially “country”. I don’t consider Red Dirt music lame at all, and with so much out there to choose from it boils down to personal preference. Music IS always the point. With me anyway. Since “nashville pop”, consists of a core group of session writers and session players(for the most part), no matter what they put out will be an imitation. That why it bores me to no end. At least even bad Red Dirt is original.
November 26, 2008 at 4:07 pm Permalink
I’ll take good mainstream music (it may be hard to find sometimes) over bad red dirt music (sadly, its easier to find than it used to be). It’s not about labels for me, its about whether its good or bad period (that goes for all genres). “Red Dirt” as a genre label is vague and has been attached to a region, not a style of music.
Also, what is so original about, Bart Crow Band, No Justice or Rich O’Toole? I am not saying that they are bad by any means, but there isnt anything that really sets them apart in a scene that has become really over-crowded with 4-5 peice rock acts basically. Also, please give specific examples of bad “red dirt” that is still orginal? I dont get that…
November 26, 2008 at 11:27 pm Permalink
I live close to the Texas Oklahoma border and everyone and their brother thinks they are a “red dirt” artist. I still have not a clue what the term “red dirt” means. At first I thought it was country music without steel and fiddles- just acoustic guitar-but that really doesn’t fit either. I don’t like some of the red dirt artists like cross canadian ragweed, but i like some like jason boland and some of stoney larue’s music. In a way it seems like a rehash of some of the progressive country – cosmic cowboy type stuff coming out of Austin a long time ago like jerry jeff walker, rusty wier etc. If anyone can explain it to me please do. I don’t get it. And the previous posts don’t help. If its just a region, I guess I can get my mind around that.
November 27, 2008 at 6:52 am Permalink
Kelly, With so much great music out there, I don’t focus on the bad music. Since I’m nowhere near Texas or Oklahoma, I go by what I research, learn and listen to on the internet. When I go to the Texas Red Dirt music site. http://www.texasreddirtmusic.com/Home.html I simply click on the dozens of artists listed and listen to their music. Overall I like what I hear, very much. Could this be a fan driven genre? I believe so since that’s one element of what Americana Music is.
November 28, 2008 at 3:05 am Permalink
I take offense at the suggestion that “Red Dirt” has anything to do with Texas. In Texas the dirt ain’t “Red”. Let Stillwater do there thang. Let the Texans give it the proper twang.
December 1, 2008 at 10:22 am Permalink
Amazace:
You said that bad red dirt is still original and that bad red dirt is still better than any mainstream music. i was just asking you to clarify those claims, and i suspect you arent doing that since those claims are relatively baseless.
ponyfan:
Actually, the red river (where there is plenty of red dirt) borders the two states and from the many items i have read, that is at least one of the inspirations of the term in its current state. regardless of ones interpretation of the term or its origins, the fact remains that texas bands make up the majority (or at least a large chunk of) the “red dirt” category, regardless of what anyone wishes wer the case. Also, few of the artists that started in stillwater have long since left for texas (ccr, boland, etc…)
January 23, 2009 at 11:47 am Permalink
Rodney just sings – and brings it song after song. He doesn’t show-off when he performs or thinks that he’s bigger than what he is. Plus I think his biggest asset are the lyrics in the songs that he writes.
One of my favorite lines from a song on his third CD is “If love were easy everybody’d be in it.”
I’ve been to shows where he’s fronted for Aaron Watson (College Station and the Washington County Fair) and I’ve wondered, “Why?”
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