★★★★★
In an era of pro-tools, auto-tune and other forms of digital studio trickery, Hal Ketchum decided to record "Father Time" the old-fashioned way. In the course of two days, Hal and his crack band of musicians (people like Bran Sutton, Russ Pahl, Aubrey Haynie, Eddie Bayers and Darrell Scott) cranked out 14 tunes that speak to the way records used to be recorded. There are little imperfections in the music just as it should be...
- roughstock.com
2010-12-07
★★★★★
Ketchum, who brought a
poetic tension and silky sensuality to country with his first
records, returns after a long absence with a collection of pop
songs about romance. Problem is, I Saw the Light is a pieced-together mess
consisting of gritty tracks recorded in Austin and flaccid songs
from later Nashville sessions. Little here to recommend. C-
- ew.com
2009-06-12
★★★★★
Country realist Hal Ketchum's secondNashville album, Sure Love, isn't as immediately impressive as his first. But hehits his stride on "You Lovin' Me" by capturing the morbiddesperation of love with a woman who has nothing to give butheartache. Blending Texas lyricism with commercial accessibility,Ketchum scores with the understated urgency of a man on the edge.
- ew.com
2009-06-12
★★★★★
Country music's growing popularity is creatingopportunities for songwriters to make names for themselves assingers. Hal Ketchum looks to be one of the few writers out of theTexas school to mesh musical storytelling with commercialcountry-radio success. Literate and tuneful, Past the Point of Rescue balances poetic love songs with a squint-eyed look at teenagerebellion, romance, and psychological intrigue, all delivered with atenor that throbs with passion and conviction. A-
- ew.com
2009-06-12
★★★★★
The best soulfully sensitiveguy to hit country since Bill Anderson, Hal Ketchum proves he's a softywith a spine on his third collection, Every Little Word. He sings his bittersweetballads about troubled romances with a firm stoicism, and hecontrasts his smoky tenor with spare, dry folk instrumentation thatdoesn't neglect a juicy beat now and then.
- ew.com
2009-06-04
★★★★★
Hal Ketchum writes simple, sometimes moving songs about relationships and/or life's dilemmas, and communicates them in an attractive, unadorned vocal package. But although many of these numbers espouse country themes, Ketchum's delivery, as well as the arrangements and sensibility, lean toward easy-listening pop and light folk...
- music.aol.com
2008-08-28
★★★★★
Recorded as Hal Michael Ketchum in Austin before he moved to Nashville, it's folkier and less musically focused than his country recordings. But the thoughtfulness that informs his best work is in place, as is the willingness to take chances with his songwriting.
- music.aol.com
2008-08-28
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