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Harrison Hudson, Blood, Sweat, and Sweat, 2008 (Favorite Gentleman/Indie)
Nashville-based indie rock singer Harrison Hudson has just completed the new record Blood, Sweat, and Sweat, which will drop in early February. Hudson is a talented vocalist who has a knack for creating hooky vocal melodies that nestle themselves within driving power-chords. Hudson's current project is a three-piece band that delivers raw power-chord rock with a post-punk vibe. Sometimes self-effacing and sometimes viciously vengeful with his lyrics, Hudson uses his stellar voice and accompanying SG to create catchy power-pop rants. The 10 songs on the record are all, in one way or another, about bad relationships. Listening to him harp on ex-girlfriends or ex-lovers, one gets the distinct impression that Hudson uses his songs as the last word—indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword. Hudson's guitar-playing and singing is raw and loose, giving the record an edgy under-produced one-take vibe. He is a clever lyricist whose words will sometimes catch you off-guard. Consider the lines, "These baby blues are pumpin' water for you/Oh what to do I'm treadin' water for you/And it's oh so fine when you both, when you both are in love/But it's not so nice when you know, when you know you're alone." And then there's "Black and White," a rant against a judgmental scripture-quoting clergy person. The record's standout however, "It's the End," is a light-hearted self-effacing reflection on love that's pure top-down turn-it-up bliss. Hudson's natural gift for creating appealing melodies carries the record. The production isn't crisp enough for mainstream radio, but this record promises to get loads of college radio airplay. Blood, Sweat, and Sweat is a stellar introduction to Harrison Hudson, a talented artist from whom we'll be hearing for many years to come. Catch the CD release show at The Rutledge on February 8th. — Vincent Wynne, January 27, 2008
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