Singer-Songwriter Hank Harris Releases Breathtaking New Album

Hank Harris is working at or near the peak of his songwriting powers. His performing talents occupy the same rarified air. None of the breathtaking Beautiful Planet’s eleven tracks are filler. Harris’ songwriting is consistently surprising throughout the collection, yet never at the expense of fundamentals. His skill at merging challenging and familiar elements illustrates how Harris’ talents are expanding at an exponential rate.

URL: https://www.hankharrismusic.com/

I felt confident of the album’s virtues with its first song. “Modern Medicine” is a subtle example of Harris’ growing songwriting prowess. Marrying a highly textualized arrangement with a low-key vocal reeling through a passage through medical troubles makes for an excellent opener. The stylized arrangement never feels oppressive; instrumental separation is a crucial element in the success of this and later songs. “Beautiful Planet” is a turbulent performance. However, it never veers out of control. Harris catalogs a variety of ailments that the human race struggles with in our modern world and how those varied afflictions sabotage this wondrous planet we call home. It’s an intense piece of writing and Harris doesn’t hold out much hope for us, but the song’s existence alone is a testament to abiding faith. If Harris and others like him can continue making art from such sentiments, all is not yet lost.

“So Sweet” brings things back to a personal level. Recurring tasty guitar work is present throughout the tune, judicious backing vocals further sweeten the sound, and the general mood is melancholy without ever repelling listeners. I am especially entranced by the intimacy powering Harris’ vocals. It’s a performance rife with tremendous subtlety. “Grace” continues highlighting excellent guitar playing and comes across complete with another stellar vocal performance. The chorus is particularly effective. His lyrics pull even fewer punches than ever during “Grace”, but the continuing union of audience-pleasing arrangements and dark lyrics creates memorable tension.

“Sonny Boy” is one of the more raucous moments for me. Hearing Harris give full vent to his bluesy influences without ever lapsing into imitation is a treat. Including harmonica and biting lead guitar pairs well with Harris’ vocals as his voice has natural inclinations for this style that “Sonny Boy” spotlights. His effective use of keyboards is a strong suit of “11 Time Zones East”, and the art-pop quality of this cut makes it stand out among the strong set of songs scattered throughout this album. Harris’ vocals reach another peak during this song and continue to show the elastic nature of his voice.

The point of view behind “Beauty Makes Promises” will not cheer anyone. He takes a dim view of superficial qualities highly valued in our modern world, but his lessons ring true despite their negative tenor. This is one of the heavyweight musical moments on the release for me. Taken as a whole, Hank Harris’ new collection Beautiful Planet ranks as his most substantive work. It’s a thoroughly satisfying outing that should affirm his standing as one of the most rewarding releases in 2024. His future seems as boundless as ever.

Nicole Killian