Centerline - Warner E Hodges Album Review

Warner E Hodges:link

Album Review

After years of blazing a trail with country rockers Jason and The Scorchers, Warner E. Hodges finally gets a debut album.

His CD packshot claims Guts, Guitars, Amps, Attitude. This is true in most part, but there’s a lot more than that. Hodges’ trusty Fender Telecaster must be well worn by now but the axeman can still pump the decibels. Good ol’ out -and - out rockin’ remains the order of the day, with large dollops of bluesy picks and riffs, though he can conjure a smart ballad too. Thrusting Gimme Gimme has shades of early Rolling Stones R&B textured by raucous riffs and high-octane chorus. The formula continues of fun-fuelled Whole Lotta Fun, a thumping Southern rocker punctuated by wailing bluesy solos and Chuck Berry riffs.

Chucking in a steady mid-paced ballad, Merle Haggard’s Branded Man is a welcomed respite from the blood and thunder and shows that Hodges can mix and match it. This is one of the best moments on the album. He’s back on romping form for the blistering Hell To Pay, something you’d expect Stevie Ray Vaughan to unleash. I Love You Baby is classic Southern rhythm and blues propelled by an enormous chorus by Hodges and band mates. His rippling solos are as good as you’ll hear anywhere today, sharply juxtaposed by the sweetest of acoustic driven ballad Time Marches On, dropping in a measured and cool solo for effect, near the end. The album’s weak-spot is a below par Air That I Breathe, a rambling rocker. Things are restored for the hangdog and swaggering riff heavy She’s Tuff popularised by the Fabulous Thunderbirds, it has one of the dirtiest grooves of all time, and more stratospheric solos.

File under: Ace guitarist, excellent album.

Elly Roberts