Hank Woji ”AMERICAN DREAMS” ©2008 K Z Records Review by Lucky Boyd Hank Woji has no problem with, and is rather adept at, creating a fence. Generally, you must come down on one side or the other of his subject matter. However, if you are mature enough to set your politics aside, you’ll find the timelessness in his songs, each transcending current events and eventually becoming an anthem of life. Some of the best songs of our time started as political statements, but over time have become less galvanizing and have just become good songs. There’s a lot of that on this album. Musically, the album is put together nicely, using an upbeat folk-rock filter with a cast of accomplished pickers. Woji taps into the strength of his MyTexasMusic membership mates to assemble a ‘who’s who’ of Houston-area musicians. Woji’s delivery is passionate and crisp, even on the darkest of his cuts, which is arguably “Yuletide Blues.” There’s a train-beat knee-slapper included that still has a poignant message, a typical tongue-in-cheek Woji composition. “Patriot Games” is reprised, and without a doubt, “Livin’ On The Edge” is the album’s best cut, deep within from which Woji derives the album’s title as he tells an all-too-often story, while getting a point across as only Hank Woji can. Stats: Produced by Hank Woji, 15 cuts, 10 written by Woji; Co-writes: Ronnie Brandt, Dan L. Ford, Carly Sheehan; Covers: Brian Mullins, Martin Hoffman, Woody Guthrie; Musicians and Vocalists: Jeff Duncan, Thomas Helton, Mike Mizma, Anton Ullrich, Mark Zeus, Ken Gaines, Jack Saunders, Gary Sapone, T.C. Smythe, Alan Huff, Yolandra Jones, Emily Dugas Bollinger, Kristen Jensen, Glynace Eastham, Dodd Eastham, Aaron Inkrott; Engineering: Aaron Inkrott, Jacob Meador, Haniel Trisna, Michael Mikulka; Mastering: Haniel Trisna; tri-fold digi-pack, full-color, liner notes, 3-color disc, replicated; Running time: approx 75 minutes Notes by Jinelle Boyd: The highly anticipated release of "American Dreams", the latest from Texas Music Award nominee Hank Woji, has arrived! Artists appearing on this new project include: Alan Huff on accordian, Anton (Tony) Ullrich on 5 String Banjo, Gary Sapone on harmonica, MTM member Jack Saunders on mandolin and dobro, MTM member Jeff Duncan on violin, TMA award winner and MTM member Ken Gaines on harmony vocals, Kristen Jensen on violin, TMA award winner and MTM member Mark Zeus on mandolin, Mike Mizma on drums, TMA award nominee and MTM member T.C. Smythe on harmony vocals, Thomas Helton on doublebass, and Hank himself on 6 & 12 string guitars, harmonica and vocals. When you surround yourself with the best, chances are, your best will always emerge. We're looking forward to this new release - be one of the first to reserve your copy NOW, and the moment it arrives, it will be mailed to your front door. You can't beat that with a stick. Waiting… waiting…. waiting… and now it's here. The long awaited release from Houston balladeer Hank Woji has arrived and is set to take the musical world by storm. I remember Hank gathering information and material for this project years ago. He took his time and delivered a masterpiece on the first try. The disc is genre-expansive in that while Woji could be considered a folk musician, this disc reaches vastly into areas normally untouched by his peers. "MEDALLION" (KZ Records) sports a mere nine cuts but they are like nine movements of a perfect symphony, tugging subtly in different directions within a common paradigm. Woji is loyal to himself, opting for the artistic over the artificial, aspiring to the unforgettable instead of the fashionable. The disc is a museum piece, expertly developed and produced, lyrics enclosed (at a type set not requiring a microscope) and smartly themed. The music is solid from the folk ballad title cut to the worldly "Have You Seen The Taj Mahal?" and "Royal Love." Woji employs many of his fellow MTMers on this project including Ken Gaines, Jeff Duncan, and Selia Qynn who penned "Royal Love." Was this album worth the wait? You betcha. Hank Woji is a serious artist and a perfectionist incapable of releasing his music into mediocrity. For all of you who know Hank Woji and for those of you who are just now discovering, this disc is for you. A proud HAAM member, Woji should get plenty of mileage from this marvelous offering. Award-worthy at every turn, this disc wildly exceeds any and all expectations.