Halfway to Hazard
Halfway to Hazard's self-titled album includes tracks of an overwhelmingly somber nature. The dismayed country vibe is inherent in each song as the vocalist wallows about times past as well as people who have gone in and out of his life. But the instrumentation will seize listeners in a heartbeat and could make them ponder if any of the band's experiences mirror their own.
"Cold" opens with a rock vibe, courtesy of the guitar and drum work in the intro. It has a soulful rhythm that correlates with the message of the song. The vocalist muses about how he feels frozen inside and wants to drown his misery with alcohol. "Halfway to hazard with the rain comin' down. Wish I could go home. It's just an old empty house so I find me a cheap hotel room and a bottle of black label jack. Might find me dead by the mornin.' They won't find me lookin' back."
On "I'm Tired" the guitar play echoes in true country music fashion as each note is held for prolonged period of time. The vocalist goes on about how he is exhausted by all the interrogations he has endured. "I'm tired of all these questions. You're leavin' me thinkin' you're teachin' me a lesson. I'm tired of all these games bein' wrong, feelin' ashamed...And well I'm tired of being angry over you and me/And I'm tired of what I did and what I didn't do whatcha say I put you through. I'll never be good enough." It seems the vocalist can no longer shoulder the constant scrutiny his woman gives him, and he is telling her he is fed up and depleted.
With "Get Back Up" yet another guitar intro occurs, but this time with a relaxed pace. This song is an anthem for anybody who has been tormented by a bully. He is telling listeners to never back down and let the oppressor think they have won. "Was a smoke filled room. Was a Friday night. Talkin' to a sweet thing and havin' me a good time. When through that door Big Jim walked in. He'd been pushin' me around since we was kids/I never saw him swing, he knocked me down...Somethin' felt different then the times before, Cuz I got back up/Life's gonna hurt ya but you brush it off. Well, no you can't quit, You gotta fight back son. When you find yourself on the ground, you gotta get back up."
Halfway to Hazard's self-titled album has tracks of sorrowful tunes, but also songs that have an empowering message of hope. The instrumentation also has a severity to it that will captivate listeners and make them yearn to hear more of the sad tales the band weaves.