Known as the co-founder and guitarist of the grunge-y Alt-country band Cracker, Johnny Hickman steps out into the Americana spotlight with his first solo album, Palmhenge. Released in 2005, the album received “Voices Choice” accolades in The Village Voice and has garnered positive reviews within the country world. As a Cracker Crumb (The Cracker band fandom namesake), I was eager to take a deep dive into Hickman’s discography and hear for myself. Spoiler: I was not disappointed.
The opener, “Prerequiem (Palmhenge I),” sets the tone in a western soundscape with a lonesome vibe. Hickman knows how to tell a story, and he portrays the emotion and imagery effectively through his music, as evidenced in this song and the following companion track, “The Great Decline (Palmhenge II).” It’s a compelling tune that reminisces about days gone by, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a time before corporate greed and political turmoil tarnished the American Dream.
Listeners will notice the guitar prowess on these tracks. The sultry guitar in “Little Tom” lures you into the mysteriously sensual entrapment of the melody, while the country influences in “Lucky” add that lively handclap and sing-along vibe.
The standout track, “Harvest Queen,” is a mesmerizing desert rock tune with a powerful wall of sound. You can almost feel that stifling desert heat radiate off that melody as Hickman croons, “Summer is dying, we plant by the moon/ God’s anger burning the mountains at noon/ Don’t turn around, she’ll be beckoning you/through those endless fields of green…She’s a Harvest Queen.” His vocals tie the scorching guitar riff together with a cool, nonchalant tone.
As impressive as the vocals and the sublime guitar work are on this album, it’s the songwriting that deserves honorable mention.
Tracks such as “The San Bernardino Boy,” “Hacker Boy,” and “Friends” are fun and filled with melodic hooks and lyrics that are not only catchy but memorable. With a vibrant guitar and cynical wit, this clever blend of songcraft and musicianship is what we love best from Johnny Hickman.
The album winds down with the brooding “Father Winter” followed by the beautiful “Beauregarde’s Retreat” which boasts an entertaining narrative through the lyrics while the vocals tell the tale with charisma.
A tenacious guitarist with lots of heart, Johnny Hickman has created a timeless album. With its vibrant melodies and catchy lyrics, Palmhenge offers a compelling musical journey that’s sure to captivate fans of Americana and Alternative Country. Please do yourself a favor and give it a listen!
Recommended Tracks: “The Great Decline (Palmhenge II),” “Little Tom,” “Harvest Queen,” “The San Bernardino Boy,” “Hacker Boy,” and “Beauregarde’s Retreat.”
