This is some fun music to listen to from an extremely high energy group. It is a great road trip CD with a theme of truck driving songs. It's country music with a little kick to it.
Album Review:
For the last few months I've been hearing a lot about a group called The Road Hammers. So when the opportunity came up to review their new CD, I decided to see what they were all about.
Who are the Road Hammers?
The group is the brainchild of Canadian country star Jason McCoy. They started out on CMT Canada's "Making the Band" and took on a life of their own from the start. Along with Jason McCoy, the band is comprised of Clayton Bellamy, Chris Byrne and Corbett Frasz. They may have been thrown together on-camera, but these guys have a connection that makes them a force to keep an eye on.
Canadian Success
Four of their songs have hit the top Ten on the Canadian country charts and they took away the CCMA Duo of the Year award in 2005 after being nominated for six awards. The following year they received two awards.
Their success in Canada got the attention of the indie label Montage Music Group and the Road Hammers headed to Nashville. They went into the studio with producer Michael Knox (Jason Aldean) to record a few more tracks and tweak the album for their debut American release. The result is a great CD to listen to on a road trip. It is packed with truck driving songs and includes a couple of covers of old favorites.
With a sound reminiscent of the Kentucky Headhunters they have an intensity to their music that is barely contained in the CD format. With their high energy musical delivery, I would love to see them live in concert.
The Songs:
The album kicks off with "I'm A Road Hammer." It is somewhat autobiographical and has a hard driving rhythm while paying homage to life on the road.Another autobiographical song written by Byrne, McCoy & Bellamy is "Nashville Bound." It talks about leaving behind their life in Canada and taking an uncertain path to Nashville to make the dream happen. They did include a somewhat slower song that is their version of a ballad.
"Working Hard and Loving You" is a really great song and gives the listener a new respect for their talents. They aren't just a 'fun' band; they have substance to go with the carefree attitudes.
Two of my all time favorite trucking songs were included on the album. The old Jerry Reed tune, "East Bound and Down," brought back some great memories as did the Del Reeves classic "Girl on the Billboard."
"I've Got the Scars to Prove It" is another good life lessons song about surviving the crazy years and becoming a better person for the effort.
All in all, the album was very good. I wasn't as impressed with the last track which they called "Flat Tires." I guess it was just a hard break from the driving force of the rest of the album. But overall a great debut effort. I'm looking forward to seeing these guys on the road.
Release Date: June 24, 2008 - Montage Music Group
Track List:
- I'm A Road Hammer
- Workin' Hard at Lovin' You
- The Hammer Going Down
- East Bound and Down
- I Don't Know When to Quit
- Girl on the Billboard
- I've Got the Scars to Prove It
- Nashville Bound
- Overdrive
- Keep on Truckin'
- Willin'
- Heart with Four Wheel Drive
- Flat Tires (Bloopers, Out-Takes 'N Such)
