Album Review – Hannah Juanita – “Tennessee Songbird”
#510.1 and #510.2 (Classic Country, Honky Tonk) on the Country DDS.
Hannah Juanita’s Tennessee Songbird allows you to fall in love with country music all over again. It’s like a love letter to country music. Press play, and let the waves of classic country twang and goodness wash over you in musical bliss. There’s nothing fancy going on here. Just tune up the Telecasters, fiddle, and steel guitar, jot some songs down that capture the timeless sentiments of country music and how it makes us all feel, and let the music do the rest.
This Tennessee native’s nickname is “The Hardliner,” and for good reason. This is one pair of boots you don’t have to worry about scooting off into the realm of techno pop any time soon. She’d rather die on the hill of keeping it country than entertain any notions of what the cretins on Music Row may want her to do. But lucky for Hannah, the interest in hardcore country is on the heavy upswing, and her sophomore album has ample amounts of it.
Tennessee Songbird in many respects is about Hannah doubling down on her commitment to being a honky tonk singer, songwriter, and performer. Songs that affirm this life decision make up the heart of the album. When she sings, “Whether we listen or not, the songbird sings,” Hannah’s underscoring how she’s one of the folks who has no choice but to sing country music. It was what she was born to do. It’s in her blood. The song “Honky Tonkin’ for Life” goes even further.
When the music starts, I feel it in my heart
Singin’ is the life for me.
I’m a honky tonk angel, for that I’m so grateful
Wouldn’t trade my wings for anything.
“Mother Country Music” is another great song that makes poetry out of how we all feel about this particular genre of music.
You help me through the darkest hour when I thought I was alone
And when I found a new love you gave me a love song
And when my heart is broken and everything goes wrong
It helps to ease my mind when I hear it in your song
There are also ample opportunities on Tennessee Songbird to just unwind and have some fun. “Granny’s Cutlass Supreme” with Riley Downing of The Deslondes is definitely a hoot, as is the song “Loose Caboose.” Hannah Juanita doesn’t just sing the praises of country music on this album, she illustrates its virtues in the way this album unfolds.
Hannah’s 2021 debut record Hardliner received high praise too. But on this sophomore effort, she’s able to call forth the full resources of country music to see the vision of her songs through. It only takes a few seconds into the opening track “Hardliner Blues” to conclude you made the right choice by spinning this record as the guitar intro knocks your socks off.
The instrumentation on this album is superb and super tasty, finding little moments to even feature accordion and bits of percussion to make these songs feel not just produced, but loved by her long time collaborator and fellow performer Mose Wilson. Along with Mose laying down lead licks, you also have Chris Scruggs on lead guitar, fiddle player Billy Contreras, bass player Dennis Crouch, and Bruce Bouton of Brooks & Dunn/Ricky Skaggs fame performing on pedal steel.
Tennessee Songbird goes by quick at a 32-minute runtime, and on the surface may just seem like another standard issue East Nashville honky tonk album. But by the end, your reinvigorated as a country music fan. You’re reminded why this music means so much to you, and why it’s so much more than mere audio entertainment.
Country music is life for so many of us. That’s most certainly the case for Hannah Juanita.
1 3/4 Guns Up (8.2/10)
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Purchase from Bandcamp
August 30, 2024 @ 8:05 am
Dudes. She is so goddamn good.
August 30, 2024 @ 9:58 am
That lead guitar on Hardliner Blues! Just the opening lick alone, oh my. That caught my attention. Then the blazing steelwork comes in midway through the song, and its a wow as well. Good on Mose and Chris and Bruce.
A lot of these kinda albums are cool, but I hear them and inwardly realize they just may never get another listen from me. This however, speaks well to me. I’m gonna dive deeper on this one. I did catch Hannah at Ameripolitan a couple years back, but this will make me take another look. Great stuff!
August 30, 2024 @ 11:38 am
Love her!
Hannah is a riot.
August 30, 2024 @ 12:43 pm
This woman has the goods and she delivers.
August 31, 2024 @ 6:08 am
I’ve been really looking forward to this album and it doesn’t disappoint. The whole album is great, with Hannah’s signature humor in song’s like Granny’s Cutlass Supreme, Honky Tonk greats like Honky Tonk For Life, and all around classic country goodness. Hannah and Mose have hit a groove that has this album one of my favorites this year.
I’m happy this album got a review here. Hannah Juanita, along with Emily Nenni, Charlie Marie, Kelsey Waldon, Brit Taylor, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting right now, are showing that women are paving the way for authentic country and honky tonk right now. If you were ever one of the people saying you wish women in country played real country music instead of pop, then buy/stream or go see a show from these women.
Also, speaking of Mose Wilson, if you haven’t checked out his album, give it a spin. Good stuff, and he says he is currently recording his second album now. He’ll also be producing that one, as well as a new album for Country Blues artist Eliza Thorn, who sings backup vocals on Hannah’s album. Her new single Alibi is out now.
Thanks for the review.
August 31, 2024 @ 7:07 am
So much good music being released this year. This is another artist I had not heard of. She is good!
September 1, 2024 @ 4:05 pm
Hannah Juanita, Sierra Ferrell, Brennen Leigh, and Milly Racoon = talent! fun! The song from 4 years ago is ” Sad Singin’ Slow Ridin’ ” if the link doesn’t want to work 🙁 Did I mention FUN?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDjKzv4kKh8&pp=ygUdaGFubmFoIGp1YW5pdGEgc2llcnJhIGZlcnJlbGw%3D
September 1, 2024 @ 7:39 pm
Admittedly, I have not listened to anything other than the two tracks you have here on your website, but…Hardliner Blues is a direct rip-off of a Merle Haggard (and Lynard Skynard) tune , Honey Tonk Night Time Man. Maybe Im getting old, but…nice instrumentation, but it’s the same song!
September 1, 2024 @ 7:44 pm
…and the other song, Mother Country Music sounds suspiciously like Long Black Veil from Johnny Cash, The Band, etc. she got a nice voice, but she’s lacking for originality!