Hank III

Country music's middle finger, aka Hank Williams III, recently shed his record label shackles and has unleashed three very different, somewhat self indulgent, yet fucking awesome albums. Now on his own Hank3 Records, the double LP, "Ghost To A Ghost/Guttertown" and the crazy as shit "3 Bar Ranch Cattle Callin" can see the light of day. The former starts as a raucous country record with occasional bursts of bluegrass, punk rock, folk that then moves into periods of ambient noise and zydeco influence. Oh, and Tom Waits and Les Claypool both stop by to rest their weary feet/heads. Multiple listens reward thoroughly on this one.

Then it gets ape shit.

"3 Bar Ranch Cattle Callin" is described as cattle-core...meaning the record is a speed metal showing with samples of actual cattle auctioneers and bursts of banjo throughout. It sounds fucking crazy, and it is. But really, what else would you expect from the grandson of one of the pioneers of country music and the son of the voice of Monday Night Football? A song called "Cunt of a Bitch." That's what you'd expect...and that's what you'd get.