Atlantic Records has a history of signing artists with great potential, providing them with a minimal amount of publicity, then dropping them when the artist doesn't break through in a profitable fashion. In the '90's, the most egregious example of this was King's X. The latest nominee is a talented rock singer named Will Hoge.
The America EP is a politically charged piece, consisting of four original tunes and a cover of the Dylan standard "The Times They Are a-Changin'". Hoge's views become readily apparent in the searing "Hey Mr. President (Anyone But You)," a diatribe against the current administration's foreign policies and the war in Iraq. It offers a list of potential successors, some more likely than others. "America" hearkens back musically to "Hey Tonight," a piece from Hoge's first release.
The most poignant number is "Bible vs. Gun," a portrait of a soldier in the battle zone, wishing he were holding a Bible instead of the military-issued rifle in his hands. It also pleads for a society that would live by the ideas set forth in the Scripture.
Hoge's political views aside, this EP shows, once again, Hoge's ability to combine modern rock with a blues edge, and a tip of the hat to the music we grew up on in the '70's and '80's. A new live album is in the works soon for Hoge, and hopefully, a new record deal...assuming the industry will give him a shot.
4 tocks
