HARDY - the mockingbird & THE CROW - Album Review

For this new album review, I finally discuss HARDY's ambitious but transparently two-faced country rock release.
Best Songs: ‘i in country’, ‘drink one for me’, ‘happy’
Worst Songs: ‘here lies country music’, ‘SOLD OUT’, ‘TRUCK BED’, ‘RADIO SONG’ ft. Jeremy McKinnon, ‘KILL SH!T TILL I DIE’
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Text review of 'the mockingbird & THE CROW': www.spectrum-pulse.ca/blog/al...
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HARDY - the mockingbird & THE CROW - Album Review (country rock)
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Spectrum Pulse is a music review / commentary channel, like colleagues Anthony Fantano of TheNeedleDrop, ARTV, Dead End Hip Hop, Rocked, Deep Cuts, Crash Thompson, and plenty others, known for discussions of music, movies, art and culture.
Spectrum Pulse, music, review, album, album review, react, reaction, HARDY, HARDY review, HARDY reaction, HARDY album review, HARDY the mockingbird & THE CROW, HARDY the mockingbird & THE CROW review, HARDY the mockingbird & THE CROW album review, HARDY the mockingbird & THE CROW reaction, Country, Country rock, beer, red, Morgan Wallen, wait in the truck, Lainey Wilson, drink one for me, i in country, screen, happy, the mockingbird & the crow, SOLD OUT, JACK, TRUCK BED, RADIO SONG
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#SpectrumPulse #HARDY #countryrock

[@InkAndPoet]

Now that we've been a year out of it, I have to say removing the scoring system was DEFINITELY for the best. Plus, it makes for a great guessing game as to how much Mark truly enjoys the album.

[@lol88133]

I don’t know, when the thumbnail is “angry face + album cover in flames,” I think you already know how much he “enjoyed” this album.

[@InkAndPoet]

@@lol88133 true, but then it becomes a guessing game as to how much he hates it. Will it be "The Click" levels of bad, "SremmLife" levels of bad, or "Neon Shark vs. Pegasus" levels of bad?

[@jeremyusreevu237]

@@InkAndPoet The Click is not even remotely bad. At all. It had like 3 eh tracks, and the rest was musical bliss.

[@tylerpoirier3699]

I find I like all ends of that, I like people who literally attempt to rank out of 100, with a percentage grade, and people who have no ratings at all, but Ive realized my favourite has been what ARTV has been doing for singles, the thumbs up- I like it, thumbs down- I don’t like it, and meh- I don’t care.

[@ByeByeDeadName]

@@jeremyusreevu237 please go to therapy

[@hyperionnova2854]

Let’s see… Black thumbnail with flames, 5 songs listed as Worst songs in the description… *oh this gonna be good*

[@washingmashine921]

Also that Lori McKenna reference as the conclusion? Amazing

[@juhaniaho6698]

It has been a while since we've had a long-form negative review...😈 Update: TRUCK BED, one of the five songs listed as the worst on the album, has now debuted at #89 on the Hot 100 for the week of June 24th, 2023. yayyyyy…

[@Artizm_Music]

It’s the country version of a white KZbin rapper trying to “save hip hop.” And that’s saying something considering Crypt literally exists.

[@SomeSong2]

It reminds me when TRL boy bands had to have one “wow they really went there” quasi-edgy video making fun of boy band pop while doing the exact same thing it was railing against.

[@tylerharaf5901]

Couldn’t disagree more. I think this is a great album, even better then his first album. I will say his hixtape projects are pretty weak

[@ryancaldwellracing]

So as a metalcore guy, I felt obligated to check out Radio Song after you mentioned that it featured Jeremy. Knowing ADTR's recent track record with their last album and collaboration with Marshmallow I didn't have high hopes. Then I saw that Cody Quinstad had a writing credit, and I got a little more optimistic. I generally enjoy projects that Quinstad works on. His style is very recognizable and all over the place in the modern metalcore scene, but I think he has a good sense for metalcore songwriting in the way that a big name writer and producer like Max Martin does for pop. Cody has some duds for me of course, but in general I view him as a mark of consistency. Yeah, Radio Song is just bad. You've got standard bro-country song writing: "Hey girl let's ride in my truck, drink some beers, make out, and scream "THIS AIN'T A RADIO SONG, FUCK." I'm normally a fan of the tonal whiplash that metlacore can present. I'm all about sudden transitions between singing and screaming, between pop melodies and chugging guitars. But typically that whiplash is meant to express shifting or conflicting emotions, not some poorly written meta line. To be honest, the sonic whiplash made it so that I didn't even instantly recognize that the transition was supposed to be "meta," it just felt sloppy and out of place. That isn't helped by the fact that the metalcore chugs are just horribly produced. Quinstad, McKinnon, and Andrew Wade's production style is typically pretty sterile (I'm ok with it, but I know isn't Mark's thing), but this isn't even sterile, it's just weak and muddy thanks to a blatant scooped mid guitar tone. And to make matters worse, IT GETS QUIETER WHEN THAT PASSAGE KICKS IN. This high point of the song, where it's supposed to explode into a metalcore style breakdown, and the volume of the instrumentation actually drops. Just baffling.

[@derekhayner7984]

Dude good job you understand the joke

[@GameJunkyard11]

Never heard of this album or this artist, but the smoke on the thumbnail is enough to make me watch the video!

[@Melody-bourbonite4life]

you should actually listen to the album. Every song is great . he doesn't know what he's talking about and wouldn't know a good song if it bit him . HARDY is the best artist and writer right now . judge for yourself, don't take his word for it.

[@johncena-pt7eu]

@@Melody-bourbonite4life not every song, a couple are trash

[@Melody-bourbonite4life]

@john cena everyone has the right to their opinion . but I like every song, and so do a lot of people who have reviewed the album. in fact, I love all 58 HARDY songs that he has sung since his first single rednecker . but it's ok if people don't. I just ask to be fair and listen to it, then judge for yourself. not everybody likes the same thing, and that's ok . the world would be pretty boring if we did.

[@sprice2344]

Did you time this to come out not long after it was played on WWE raw?

[@backsgl]

I have the odd feeling Hardy will see this review and make a fuss about it. I don't think he'll make a song or even a concert shoutout about it, but I have the feeling he'll tweet about it or make some kind of noise elsewhere. He's giving off that sort of vibe. Also, subtle Lori McKenna callback at the tail end. Nice.

[@4RBourbon]

Idk to me Hardy gives off the vibe that he doesn’t give a f what anybody says about his music

[@jeremyusreevu237]

I don't even think HARDY knows who Mark is.

[@NotoriousLightning]

You're obviously just saying that because of the colour of his skin. You need to open your eyes and realize, my friend. Stuff like that doesn't mean a thing! It's all about what environment one grows up in, and the general culture surrounding people who is able to take criticism like a champ and who gets mad about it. Implying otherwise is kind of sussy if you ask me.

[@derekhayner7984]

Hardy likes to perform wearing a shirt that says “hardy sucks” in big letters on it. I really don’t think he cares

[@sleepdeprivedpikachu7235]

That uncle kracker reference killed me.

[@NotoriousLightning]

What I think would be even funnier is if it was a reference to Uncle Fucka from that musical movie South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. Wouldn't that be even funnier? I think it would be even funnier.

[@SomeSong2]

You know it’s going to be a review for the ages when it’s a flyover state-targeted, multi-format album being covered with five songs in the worst column.

[@JohnGormleyJG]

The only thing I'll say about "Here lies country music", even though its still one of my least favourite songs from Hardy is the song is not necessarily critiquing country music today but imagining a world in which country music had died and how terrible that would be, he clarifies in the last verse that this is not the world he is in but a dream which he had.

[@blendernoob64]

I saw Jeremy McKinnon on the feature list and my heart sank. It really seems like the only good things he's involved in nowadays are the new Wage War records.

[@InkAndPoet]

Cody from Wage War, believe it or not, has a writer's credit on "RADIO SONG"!!!

[@blendernoob64]

@@InkAndPoet not surprising lol

[@alex_flamer]

Lol given his connections and how corporate this album is based on how you described it, I'm expecting some of these songs to get a lot of radio airplay this year. Most notably on rock radio. Then, it'll all probably be thrown out and forgotten about by the time the year is over.

[@Melody-bourbonite4life]

almost none of these songs will get played on the radio, and at least 3 of them pretty much tell the industry FU. this album is far from corporate. and people still talk about his first album 2 years later and he has won 2 writer of the year awards.

[@mc98smusicmoviereviews93]

Eric Church was clearly influenced by the No Depression subgenre of alt-country and cowpunk.... Wilco and Son Volt come to mind (he even gave Jeff Tweedy a shout-out in Mr Misunderstood). Not hearing that kind of influence in any of Hardy's work but I'm a lot softer on post-grunge than most people. Maybe because I "like" bands like Live and Fuel, and they are often stuffed into that box.

[@JoshInTheBox]

Came here after the Twitter post and I had a feeling about it.

[@NotoriousLightning]

Personally, I think Twitter suckles, but you're free to use it if you enjoy it.

[@LilAnnThrax]

I tried to like this album. I didn't know much about him but heard some buzz here and there. I'm a big metalcore fan and I love a ton of country so I was hoping this would do it for me. I agree with your analysis completely. It felt inauthentic as hell.

[@sleepdeprivedpikachu7235]

I think one of the most interesting comments you can make about this guy is that he’s the one breaking through instead of Lorrie McKenna.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

To all the trolls in this comment section who are bullying Mark because he doesn't like The Mockingbird and The Crow, stfu. I like this album as well, I think it's an enjoyable pile of country grooves. But Mark just doesn't. And that's fine. So stop your yammering about how Mark is a snobbish a-hole, because he dared to have an opinion different than yours. You can disagree with Mark, I do myself, but please, be respectful.

[@marvelandmusicfan2395]

I may not check out the full album I’m just not interested right now I just only have a check out the new Song with a day to remember Singer Radio song because I love a day to remember I think it’s an average decent and solid song but it’s not my favorite for the most part So I just had a check that’s all not because I like a day to remember a lot I don’t know that I’m not gonna check out the full album maybe I will at some point but right now I’m just not interested right now.

[@BataraKado]

finally an honest review...........

[@ConvincingPeople]

Wow, the one track he played in the background from the "rock" half of this record was… embarrassing.

[@InkAndPoet]

I honestly thought that was one of the better tracks. But even then, it was weak.

[@jackhayes6084]

This guy is apparently being booked on a lot of Rock festivals for some reason

[@SomeSong2]

I can just imagine the older dads going to see a Hardy show with their son at some he-man testosterone-field edgy country show and them being confused as a fish out of water during the mosh parts and f-bombs.

[@patrickstar6247]

“Radio Song” slapped hard

[@garrettscroggs]

Seconding the appreciation for the Lori McKenna reference at the end. Never got the big deal with HARDY even as a mainstream bro-country adjacent artist. Everything I've heard from him (which admittedly isn't a ton as I've not had much desire to listen to more) has sounded like the most bland and generic version of the sound. Even "Sold Out" (which was probably may favorite of the tracks I've heard of his) just, as you said, sounded like watered down post-grunge like Daughtry but worse singing.

[@NotoriousLightning]

What would be even more appreciated is if it was a Laura Branigan reference. Wouldn't that be even more appreciated? I think I for one would appreciate it more, even though I also kind of appreciate what we got.

[@tylerpoirier3699]

Lowkey LOVED the Wage War vocalists feature. But the rest was… ehhhhh. Also I think that you only need to live the life of your scene unless you directly, in real life, claim and portray that you do. Then it’s about whether you are a genuine, honest person.

[@benjaminwalker4029]

Would you say that this album is...for the birds? X D

[@tylerhackner9731]

Interesting one

[@SomeSong2]

It’s like Kid Rock music but without some of the shame and county fair smell of listening to Kid Rock.

[@alex_flamer]

I saw him do an interview with Rock Feed. Yes he's been writing a lot of huge pop country hits over the last few years, but he definitely seems like a poser. He even said he was inspired by a lot of early-mid 2000s post grunge bands like Puddle of Mudd, Staind, Godsmack, and Breaking Benjamin.

[@mc98smusicmoviereviews93]

The MGK of country?

[@rainydayjules]

I guess country artists should just stop naming their albums after birds lol it’s a bad sign

[@matthewroberts3125]

The impression I get from this review is that it seems like this Hardy dude is this generation's Kid Rock

[@Melody-bourbonite4life]

that comparison has been made. mostly do to style, but HARDY is way better than kid rock.

[@tylerharaf5901]

Definitely wouldn’t say that. Hardy is enjoyable and kid rock is someone I will never listen to outside of all summer long

[@ericgeneric135]

A grown man complaining about not being able to post pictures of bloody, dead animals on his social media? That's got to be the most pathetic thing I've ever heard.

[@SomeSong2]

It’s music for guys who want to be seen as these thousand yard stare, stoic tough guys who stand around with their arms folded in their camo.

[@jimmieblanton810]

Well he wasnt complaining about "not being able to" he said " not afraid to post a dead buck on Instagram". I personally think a grown man complaining about another man hunting and showing off his kill is about the most pathetic thing a man can complain about.

[@devildoc4257]

Quick question how many number one hit songs have you written. Asking for a friend.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Oh look yet another "You haven't made music so you can't criticize music" comment.

[@animationstation1005]

This album was so frustrating. I love the first half with songs like Drink One For Me, the title track, Red, & Wait In The Truck. But I DESPISE the second half of it, with some of the worst Rock I've heard in a VERY long time. Worst tracks are Truck Bed for being more Trap Country trash, & especially Kill S!it Till I Die for being so obnoxious and asinine. It's a 5/10 at best and a big disappointment.

[@NotoriousLightning]

And if you ever lose your mouth; all your teeth, north and south? And if you ever lose your mouth awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, you won't have to talk no more!

[@TalkingMusicAllDay]

This record started out fine but once it got to Screen, it pretty much became a wasteland of bland production, corny lyrics, and vocals that sound like a lame put-on. I really gave this a fair chance but I agree that this is such a stylistic train wreck.

[@jeomaykutecson3545]

The first one!!

[@juliekeast6175]

Ehh... Give me Morgan Wade or Zach Bryan over HARDY.

[@Tris_Crazy_Music_Stuff]

while i did really like this album, i wouldn't say you didn't have good points i am more of a fan of HARDY's stuff than you are, so that might be why i was able to look beyond these obvious flaws like you said, it isn't experimental but it was certainly ambitious, and i suppose the fact i was able to enjoy it despite the politics being pretty opposite to mine reveal a certain defeat on me to just accept that mainstream country and rock might disappoint me in their subjet matter (looking at you Shinedown) i had a blast with the album, but its not great, its not experimental, its politics are questionable at best and i completely respect you hating what it represents

[@NicklasZandeVGCP2001]

It's like he's trying too hard to be Kid Rock.

[@TrippedGian1]

Spot on, Mark. Don't really want to listen to the album but it would be my least favorite of the year, without question. I'll kinda give him "Wait in the Truck" but Lainey Wilson is easily better on it

[@rioyay2239]

The first half was listenable at best, cringey at worst, and the second half was just straight trash. Weird posturing, unimpressive production, and every time he talked about killing deer I died a little inside.

[@DashieNegan41]

His album sucked worse than his WWE Royal Rumble performance

[@cameronwatts8399]

The here lies country music was a dream and literally said how he’s glad it hasn’t died . And I literally love this album

[@houstonfob2FOREVER]

loved this review, Hardy annoys the hell out of me

[@DashieNegan41]

New Riverside is better

[@Smalljose6912]

S/O to baseball videogames

[@thejubbinator1065]

Yes! The contradictions of this album were exactly what Hardy was going for! He explains in interviews that the criticizing of country music is towards HIMSELF, not the industry. It's literally the CROW talking shit about the mockingbird and how the mockingbird just does the same things and feeds the country machine. And it further shows the CROW doing it's own thing and not caring what anyone thinks. Also you got "Here lies country music" all wrong. The song is telling a story about living in a world where country music would die and how awful it would be. Man I have no ill will toward you but you dismissed this album so quickly and misinterpreted a lot of the themes.

[@SpectrumPulse]

Nah, you missed the fundamental point, I get what HARDY's doing (it's not that deep): if he's being so self-critical here, then why so many songs on the first half of the album where he's just doing the same thing he opts to criticize (which completely kills a lot of their emotive presence, btw), and then on the 'authentic' THE CROW section he just vomits up even more derivative radio rock. That ultimately undermines his rebellious attitude if all he's going to do is play into even worse cliches of the same music industry system, independent of genre (especially as said mainstream has been pulling from rock for decades now). I've already addressed my expanded thoughts on 'here lies country music' in another comment, but the long and short of it is that if he's telling the story of how bad the world would be without country WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT TO MANY HE'S THE ONE DILUTING THAT SOUND IN THE SYSTEM, it feels disingenuous. I cited 'Murder On Music Row' by Alan Jackson and George Strait as a prime example of how to do this right - frankly, Alan's been beating this drum way more effectively for decades now.

[@derekhayner7984]

@@SpectrumPulse dude your thinking way too much about here lies country music dude literally said it’s just a lil story about what if country music died. It ain’t that deep not every story is real

[@Jimshair46]

he was so bad at the royal rumble

[@JacobSButterworth]

Watched the performance this morning and it didn't sound too great

[@jeremyusreevu237]

This album was pretty solid imo. A decent selection of country bangers. My favorite tracks are Beer, Red, Wait In The Truck, happy, I in country, and Drink For Me.

[@aaronnihart3690]

This guy claiming ‘Here Lies Country Music’ is a song about country in general just shows that the research for this review took all of about ten minutes.

[@SpectrumPulse]

I mean, I didn't say that: it's tied into the same bogus narrative that's all throughout this album that the 'industry sold it out' from the truth and heritage and the sound ain't the same - tell Luke Combs that and he'd laugh in your face - all the while ignoring that HARDY is part of that industry that sells the same regurgitated, cliche, list-driven songs Music Row demands, and has for years now; what right does fucking HARDY have to try and play this shit? I cited 'Murder On Music Row' for a reason, because George and Alan as neotraditionalists actually were starting to be on the outside looking in in the late 90s compared to the rise of pop country - HARDY, meanwhile, hasn't made a song that could lick their boots. He plays it off like 'it was all a dream' on the bridge, but don't fucking lie to me - he's no standard bearer, and the first half of this album proves it.

[@tylerharaf5901]

@@SpectrumPulse I’m not even gonna argue, because I know whatever I say you won’t listen. But as someone that used to be a big fan of your channel this review was frustrating to watch. I think hardy is one of the more interesting mainstream artists; I think this is more that you don’t enjoy this style of music.

[@Melody-bourbonite4life]

wow! this album was awesome. this guy don't know what he's talking about.

[@jeremyusreevu237]

I liked the album too.

[@derekhayner7984]

This guy seems to hate every album he reviews (especially country ones) and pumps multiple reviews out a week. He doesn’t actively listen or care. Hate gets more clicks and interaction so that’s what he’s gonna do. If you want a genuine, fair review watch Grady smith.

[@Melody-bourbonite4life]

@Derek Hayner I do watch Grady, and your right he is the best at reviews .

[@rudolfambrozenvtuber]

​​@@derekhayner7984 None of this is consistent with reality. Mark even gets shit for liking too much country Also Grady's review was embarassing

[@derekhayner7984]

@@rudolfambrozenvtuber never seen this guy say anything nice about a country album

[@4RBourbon]

lmao Hardy must’ve taken this dude’s girl or something

[@AllAmericaTrucks]

Review is big jokes

[@heatherdeiss8292]

Awe, did Hardy hurt your feelings? I’m sure he won’t see this stupid review anyway. He’s too busy counting his money for having the number one album on iTunes.

[@1finhead]

The fact you keep bringing up politics tell me all I need to know about your review lol. Hardy is crying all the way to the bank over your opinions I assure you.

[@RobertHeath-yn8le]

Lol, if any one is a poser it is you criticizing people. It’s easy to see why this album offends you so much, because the whole mockingbird and crow thing is a big F*** YOU to the critics and musical industry suits. Please do a critique on another singer that’s starting to blow up named REN, I would love to hear your opinion!