#REVIEW - "AUTOBIOGRAPHY", THE NEW ALBUM BY JOSEPH HABEDANK: FROM DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT OF REDEMPTION

Listen and experience the power of "Autobiography" here

Author Jamie Arpin-Ricci once wrote that “There is more hope in honest brokenness than in the pretense of false wholeness.” I have been trying to come up with the right words to describe "Autobiography", the new album from Joseph Habedank, and these words seem to say exactly what this album is about.

"God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1

Grammy nominated and Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Joseph Habedank struggled with a heavy prescription drug addiction for several years after developing an ulcer in his throat while he was the lead vocalist and songwriter for the gospel music group, The Perrys. During his addiction, he met his wife, Lindsay. He hid the drugs from Lindsay and tried to live a life under the disguise of "false wholeness" until 3 weeks before their wedding. Lindsay found out about the drugs and his addiction. They married, but shortly after their honeymoon, he started taking pills again. His addiction worsened as time went on, eventually leading to his being asked to leave the group. After losing the job he loved as a musician and in the middle of a crippling addiction, he didn't know what to do or where to turn. He was lost. He knew he had no choice but to find help. He reached out to a counselor at Porter's Call who told him about MusicCares, a program run by the Grammys to assist those in the music industry who need help. He contacted MusicCares and they paid for his complete rehabilitation. Up until his recovery, Lindsay was told over and over that she should leave him and get out of this situation but she knew she had to stay by his side. She stayed, they worked together through the worst times and now there they are, nearly 11 years later, still together with Joseph celebrating over 10 years of being clean and with a thriving ministry that travels around the country telling of Joseph's redemption through faith and music in hopes of helping others overcome their own situations. 

"Autobiography" is an extremely personal and vulnerable album of truth, faith and the celebration of victory. His story is one of hope, love and overcoming adversity just when you think you can't handle any more. Each song represents a "chapter" in his life, steps forward, resulting in a change that only comes from believing that help comes from above. He is living proof that Jesus can indeed save you from yourself if you surrender the battle to Him. Opening up, putting it all on the table and sharing his experience may help someone who listens to the album begin to open their own heart to accept hope and to build in their faith. Sharing this truth, as painful as it is, can help others begin to heal. 

Thank you Joseph for sharing your own "honest brokenness" through this album and for being the first step that someone who hears it has been wanting to take. There is something about the power of a song and this album proves it. This is one of the best album releases of the year and I hope that the word spreads about the power of this message.

"Autobiography" Track Listing:

1. Prelude

2. "Worthy" - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Andrew Bergthold & Tony Wood

3. "Ain’t That The Truth" - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Logan Cain, Madison Cain, Ethan Hulse & Nick Schwarz

4. "Jesus Walked In" (featuring Chris Blue) - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Tony Wood & Nick Schwarz

5. "The Church" - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Jason Cox & Sue C. Smith

6. Interlude (Little Me)

7. "Jesus Wasn’t Leaving" - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Michael Farren & Tony Wood

8. "Tell The Devil" - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Ethan Hulse & Nick Schwarz

9. "Jehovah" - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Mitch Wong & Tony Wood

10. "Going With Jesus" (featuring Bernie Herms) - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Bernie Herms & Ethan Hulse

11. "Forgiven" (featuring Houston's First Worship) - Writers: Joseph Habedank & Jeff Bumgardner

12. "The Basement" - Writers: Joseph Habedank, Michael Farren & Tony Wood

For more information about Joseph Habedank, visit josephhabedank.com. Be sure to check his tour dates. The personal experience of his testimony is something I highly recommend.

NEW MUSIC REVIEW - "WRONG SONGS: MUSINGS FROM THE SHALLOW END" - RAY SCOTT

If you're easily offended, you might want to listen to other albums but then again, you might wanna release a little and lighten up with this collection of songs as only Ray Scott can write them, sing them and put them into stories you won't want to read to your kids. No one tells a "questionable and colorful" story better than Ray. It's who he is, take it or leave it. From what I've heard and seen, most listeners are choosing to "take it".

The thing about Ray Scott is his ability to be honest and be himself. You don't see that much anymore in an industry that wants to stay "acceptable" and bases criteria for "good music" on a certain image, redundant lyrics, auto-tune, drum beats, mainstream radio play and lots of industry financial backing. Ray bucks that standard, does his own thing, relates to his fan base and sticks to what makes his fan numbers continue to grow every day by simply being Ray and putting it out there. We need more of that instead of the same regurgitated lyrics and sounds. You won't find any country rap here, you won't find "white tank tops" here, you won't find "pick up trucks" here and you won't find contents that isn't relevant in Ray's life somehow, no matter how warped that content is. How cool is that? His voice is unique and as country as they come, he's got his own style of twang and his own sound that no one else can even try to replicate. Maybe that's why he's so likeable, he stands on his own merits and isn't an echo. This album certainly isn't an echo. It's funny, it's honest, it's very relatable to most listeners (well at least most of it is these days) and it's the laugh we could all use in today's uptight, easily offended, woke world.

Hold on tight and get ready for 8 songs that will have you raising your eyebrows, smirking, rolling your eyes and laughing out loud, hopefully not while you're on that office zoom call or in church or something.

Here we go ... seriously, this is pure laugh your tail off comedy gold. They're all great songs, but here are my standouts:

1.) "Between Us" - Yeah, I think I'm gonna just let you go tune in and form your own review of this one because I laugh so hard I can't type.

2.) "In Pictures" - In the age of social media, we have ALL had this happen to us. It's a story of today's ages, it happens every day in an emo coffee shop, a downtown bar, or heck, even the grocery store because I promise you there are strangers out there that met online and decided the local Kroger was the best place to meet in person. The picture online isn't quite what you get in person. Sometimes it's better, sometimes not so much and sometimes it's just not even close. Ray uses no filter in this song, what you see is what you get.

3.) "Everyone Ends Up Ugly" - Yeah we do, one way or another. Enjoy those hair extensions, those rock hard abs, those boob jobs and those speedos and bikinis while you can. Those wrinkles are gonna set in soon, your boobs and butt are gonna sag, your arm flaps are just gonna happen, your belly's gonna expand and your hair is gonna go gray. It happens, we ALL get ugly in the end.

4.) "Santa's Sack" - This one sleighed me when I heard it. See what I did there? Let's just say you'll never look at Santa's Sack the same way ever again. He might have to start delivering toys by Amazon after this song.

Take a chance, take a listen and take a breath because this one's gonna take yours away by making you laugh.

Go to www.rayscott.com and order your copy, put some money in Ray's pocket. If you're a streamer, go get it on the digital outlets like Spotify and Apple Music. Leave reviews for it, talk about it on your social media pages.

Thanks Ray for a bright spot in a dark world and moving the bar down a notch when society has it set just a bit too high. We love and appreciate you, as is.