Hunter does release songs with a sense of humor and How's Your House is one that is a fun filled piano and rollocking lament on behalf of the victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The title came from the flood resident victims.
"If FEMA won't help me, I know the Good Book will" and an authentic touch is added with the regional phrasing of "ax" me instead of the more proper ask me while the house is being washed away. This is social satire and humor used effectively on behalf of the unfortunate people in New Orleans. Another interesting twist with the spoken line ending:
"I don't know maybe it needs a bridge or something."
The failures of levees and flood walls during Katrina are considered by experts to be the worst engineering disaster in the history of the United States. By August 31, 2005, 80% of New Orleans was flooded, with some parts under 15 feet (4.6 m) of water. In short, this is one of Ian's not directly political but socially aware songs done in a humorous and easy to digest fashion.
The song came quickly in only ten minutes and Hunter thought the Rant Band might not like it since it was only two chords and really only a poem for fun. The Ranters convinced him to record it.
On Track Ian Hunter is shipping soon. Want to promote Ian? The publisher is marketing the book but asked for help from us fans in the Hunter orbit. If you have contacts with podcasts, magazines, or other music outlets let me know so we can promote Ian's music. I'm open for interviews to talk about Hunter's catalog. Thanks!
Great news! Advance copies of On Track Ian Hunter have reached the publisher and will be available soon! I even saw an advance copy on eBay.
On Track Ian Hunter https://www.amazon.com/dp/1789523044...
Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
Full of Words & Book 101!
Better To ...? Podcast, recorded a terrific conversation, due for release 2 August 2024.
In the meantime, listen to previous appearances!
Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS
Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian
https://www.facebook.com/.../pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTip...
Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650...
HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2
Frankly Francisco Podcast:
Mostly about Burning America: In the Best Interest of the Country? but On Track Ian Hunter is mentioned as well:
https://open.substack.com/pub/micksmith/p/who-was-on-the-frankly-francisco?r=e00v8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Toby Gribben Show, awesome show, and live 8 February 2024!
Sign up now for behind the scenes information about On Track
Ian Hunter at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!
To book and interview:
TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
What is the difference between a Beatles biography or a song by-song review of the Beatles career?
https://micksmith.substack.com/p/what-is-the-difference-between-a-9fc
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
How's Your House?
(Ian Hunter)
Well can anybody help me
Can anybody help yeah
Can anybody help me
Can anybody help
Crept across the border, got a mobile home
Hurricane Katrina, sunk me like a stone, yeah
Now I'm runnin' outta water, there's nothing left to eat
The kitchen's (kids?) in the car 'n' it's floating down the street
How's your house how's your house
How's your house how's your house
How's your house how's your house
How's your house how's your house
Well can anybody help me
Can anybody help yeah
Can anybody help me
Can anybody help
Now the reason I believe in the good book still
If FEMA won't help me, I know the good book will
So if anybody asks yuh, how's your Mom and them
Just tell 'em I was asking
Where are ya when ya need 'em
How's your house how's your house
How's your house how's your house
How's your house how's your house
How's your house how's your house
How's Your House is a fun, piano-drenched rocker lamenting the lack of help for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Ian Hunter CD: "Shrunken Heads"
Sleeve and track listing
Yep Roc YEP2152 (USA)/Jerkin Crocus JERK9 (UK)
- Words (Big Mouth)
- Fuss About Nothin'
- When The World Was Round
- Brainwashed
- Shrunken Heads
- Soul Of America
- How's Your House
- Guiding Light
- Stretch
- I Am What I Hated When I Was Young
- Read 'em 'n' Weep
Bonus EP:
- Your Eyes
- Wasted
- Real Or Imaginary
Review
This is Ian's first studio album in six years since 2001's Rant. Eagerly anticipated by fans, musically and lyrically it has much in common with its predecessor. Those familiar with Rant will immediately feel comfortable with this album. Whereas before he was lamenting what he sees as the decline of the land of his birth, this time he is commenting on his adopted homeland.
This reviewer always finds it takes a few listens to "get" an Ian Hunter album, and this is no exception. There appears to be little or no filler, and there's a healthy mix of strong, solid rockers and quieter, slower material. Much of the material has a familiar feel - a riff here, a bridge there, very much in the Ian Hunter style where he (perhaps subconciously) leans on his own earlier material.
There are some astonishingly good tracks on here. Words (Big Mouth) opens things up nicely where Ian apologises to a loved one for mouthing off the night before, while Ian yearns for a earlier, simpler world in When The World Was Round. Brainwashed is a great rocker, aimed squarely at the brand-name materialism society seems to be obsessed with today. Shrunken Heads is a great track, with a distinct Springsteen-ish touch to it - close your eyes and it's easy to imagine the E-Street Band accompanying Ian on this one.
In Soul Of America he rails against the current crop of leaders who don't compare to Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin... at the same time as noting how corrupt the whole government machine has become ("feathering their nests while they're rallying the troops..."). How's Your House is a fun, piano-drenched rocker lamenting the lack of help for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Stretch (another guitar-led rocker) sees Ian taking aim at some of the ne'er-do-wells he grew up with, perhaps noting that things could easily have turned out so very differently.
It will be interesting to see how much of this material come across live (I suspect 'very well'). Initial copies of this album come with a 3-track bonus CD - for once the "limited edition" tag is accurate, as bonus-less versions are already in the shops. The tracks are as strong as on the main album (ie definitely not demo tracks). Your Eyes in particular would not have been out of place on the main album, while Wasted has more than a touch of Ian's own God (Take One) about it. At about 50 minutes the album is the right length and the production is very clean.
Overall, a good album that rewards repeated listening. Initially I thought "maybe a notch or two down on his very best" but you know, I'm gonna change my mind. The more I listen to this album the more it grows on me. I'm now firmly convinced this is one of his very best, up there with Alien Boy and Schizophrenic. Now where's that repeat button on the CD player...
| How's Your House | 4:18 | Originally released on Shrunken Heads. |
| How's Your House (live 2nd March 2008) | (6:11) | This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) was issued on Acoustic Shadows (box set only). |
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