Will Hoge

Item: Blackbird on a Lonely Wire
Author: Brian A. Smith

Blackbird on a Lonely Wire

(2003)

Reviewed by Brian A. Smith

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Atlantic RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2003

blues rock rock southern rock

You know how every once in awhile you get that feeling? That feeling you have when you hear a band and you hope they won't hit big so that you know how much cooler you are than everyone else because you know how good this band is? Will Hoge gives me that feeling. If Atlantic gives his career a chance to build a following, this is your next Counting Crows/Wallflowers type of breakthrough artist.

Building off of the success of opening for Midnight Oil on their last tour, Hoge's second album shows a progression from Carousel. Concert favorites "Not That Cool" and "Secondhand Heart" are here, as well as rocker "All Night Long." "Not That Cool," a story of a guy trying to figure out how to talk to a woman, should be the radio choice, although the label is pumping the song "Be The One." The latter is a gritty tale of a woman looking for love, or at least a feeling of belonging, who settles for less:

Everybody wants to be a star in someone else's dream
But you can't get there darling, down on your knees.

"King of Grey" is the ballad, which owes nothing to The Police, despite its title. "Secondhand Heart" and "Better Off Now (That You're Gone)" recall the boozy guitar sounds of The Replacements. "Someone Else's Baby" and "Baby Girl" are the two question marks, veering into a country based sound, and featuring Michelle Branch (14:59 and counting) on "Baby Girl."

"Doesn't Have to be that Way" is an emotional number about depression, and fighting it. The recurrent themes are those of relationships, breakups, and heartache. Sounds depressing, but Hoge's vocals, sort of a richer, fuller version of Adam Duritz, make it work really, really well.

In these days of "make it quick or get dropped" record marketing, Hoge could be this year's Hootie and the Blowfish - they have made a radio accessible record that crosses a few demographics that everyone will like at least a little. There is one rare difference here, though. The quality of his vocals and the complement of the band behind him shows real talent. Given a chance, they are The Next Big Thing. Without it, it just means the few of us that already know this are that much cooler than you.

4.5 tocks