Don Hinely - Blue State Boy (2008)

Blue State Boy opens with a “Song for Bob”; Dylan that is. Dylan’s influence is felt throughout the album: several songs—especially the closing track, “Winds of Change”—would not sound out of place on Highway 61 Revisited or Blonde on Blonde. Not only does Hinely share Dylan’s lyrical prowess, the two men are similarly outspoken on the state of the nation.

As the album title suggests, Blue State Boy is something of a political record. The title track is about being a liberal in a red state, and all this entails. Now, Hinely isn’t exactly mining new lyrical ground, but he is incredibly clever in his retreading, and not in that ostentatious, ironic way so many modern songwriters have toward socially conscious subject material.

Whatever your political beliefs, there’s something on Blue State Boy for you. And with Hinely’s myriad musical influences and genre-spanning, if you can’t find at least one song you like on this record, there might just be something wrong with you. Donal Hinely is certainly a rising star in the Americana music scene, so keep an eye out for him; one can only hope that the best is yet to come.

Track List:

01 - Song For Bob
02 - Mona, Mona
03 - Shattered Glass
04 - Blue State Boy
05 - Dear Mrs. Boxer
06 - Shelly's Got The Wheel
07 - Cecilia's Kitchen
08 - Dream Going Down
09 - Half As Cool As Nick Lowe
10 - She Comes Around
11 - Nashville Blues
12 - Amerigo Vespucci
13 - Winds Of Change

Download includes front cover