HomeMusicWill Hoge - My American Dream album review

Will Hoge – My American Dream album review

Will Hoge has been a fixture on the Americana scene since releasing his debut album in 2003. The Nashville-based musician has toured relentlessly for a decade, winning over plenty of fans on both sides of the pond, and has released a prolific 10 studio albums in the intervening years. Now he’s back with his latest record, My American Dream, the follow-up to 2017’s Anchors.

The eight-track set opens with Gilded Walls, a scathing indictment of the rich and powerful who sit back and do nothing to help others. When I spoke to Hoge recently he mentioned that this album had a strong Southern rock vibe, and that’s evident right from the off in the pulsing drums, distortion d guitar and raw, impassioned vocals. It’s a song that shows Hoge’s skill as a songwriter – the image of the central figure ‘teeing off at nine’ after a high school shooting is particularly striking – as well as his ability to belt out a song when the occasion calls for it.

Throughout the record Hoge draws on a number of rock eras and influences. Whether it’s the thrashing, punky Stupid Kids, which calls on young people to stand up for what they believe in, or the 60s protest song feel of the acoustic-led Thoughts And Prayers, a sharp biting track where Hoge sneers at politicians who offer platitudes after shootings rather than taking action, he’s clearly able to turn his hand to a variety of styles whilst adding his own unique spin with his gravelly vocals.

[brid video=”306243″ player=”531″ title=”WILL HOGE THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (official)”]

Throughout the album one thing which particularly struck me was Hoge’s ability to embody his songs’ central figures. One standout example of this is the sombre  title track, which sees Hoge. In lesser hands, it’s a song that could quite easily veer off into country clichés  but Hoge’s sparse approach and anguished vocals make it an incredibly moving moment. Other highlights for me included the swampy Still A Southern Man, where Hoge brilliantly captures the inner conflict of wanting to stand for Southern values whilsr loathing what the region has come io represent politically, the world-weary and pleading Oh Mr Barnum with its detailed circus imagery, and the haunting, atmospheric The Illegal Line, a tale of risking life and limb to earn a few extra dollars crossing the US-Mexican border.

The album finishes with Nikki’s A Republican Now, another fast, frenetic song about a woman who gets sucked into right-wing rhetoric. For me this sums up everything about the record – its rattling drums and crashing guitars perfectly balance Hoge’s gravelly, sharp vocals and precise lyrics.

Overall My American Dream is a fiery, passionate album which shows off Hoge’s incredible songwriting talents and practically oozes conviction. Whilst definitely not afraid to shy away from the darker side of life or to call out wilful ignorance, it’s also a rallying cry for people who aren’t satisfied with the status quo. Hoge is sure to win over plenty of new fans with this record, as well as showing that he’s not afraid to embrace new styles and for his music to evolve. One of my favourite albums of the year – my only complaint is that it’s too short!

Gilded Walls – heavy drums, pounding, rocky feel, 70s classic rock vibes, rock and roll, distorted effects, ominous, unsettling, growl/edge to vocals, powerful, bluesy, biting – attacking politicians that don’t support regular people, not overly aggressive but impassioned. Southern rock influence. Guitars – fuzzy. Soulfulness to vocal. Stark imagery – school shooting – outspoken. Bluesy.

Stupid Kids – faster pace, quick delivery, snarky, sneering, thrashing drums, calling on young people to keep going, 90s rock feel, drum rolls, gravelly vocals, defiant

Still A Southern Man – slower, bass, groove, steady, swampy feel, bittersweet, letting go of traditional values, belt, rebellion, inner conflict, building towards end then dropping away, subdued then picking up again

Oh Mr Barnum – slower, downbeat feeling, pleading, raw, emotional chorus, rocky edge from guitars, passion but not aggressive, weariness, contrast rollicking feel of intro

Thoughts & Prayers – acoustic guitar, folky feel, 60s protest song vibe, growl in voice, sharpness, direct, snarling, critical, honest, open. Stripped back, raw, powerful, packs a punch.

My American Dream – heavier, bluesy vibes, sparse, very personal feeling, storytelling, dark, despondent. Moving, painful. Bit Eric Church? Slightly nasal vocals.

The Illegal Line – pounding, heavy, rocky guitars/drums in intro, vivid imagery, lonesome feeling, ominous, great storytelling, life on low pay/in the shadows/crossing the border, darkness, really good at creating and inhabiting characters, dropping away then building up again, knows how to create a mood, long outro/guitar solo

Nikki’s A Republican Now – fast-paced, thrashing, much more rock and roll feel, drum rolls, belt, powerful vocal, details, driving, fiery, storytelling

Track list: 1. Gilded Walls 2. Stupid Kids 3. Still A Southern Man 4. Oh Mr Barnum 5. Thoughts And Prayers 6. My American Dream 7. The Illegal Line 8. Nikki’s A Republican Now Record label: EDLO Records/Thirty Tigers Release date: 5th October 2018

Laura Cooney
Laura Cooney
Laura has been writing for Entertainment Focus since 2016, mainly covering music (particularly country and pop) and television, and is based in South West London.

Must Read

Advertisement