[rating=4.00]
Even though Young Hines might easily be presumed as just a clever stage name, it is in fact this band leader’s own name, given to him on account of him being the youngest of seven children. After listening to Give Me My Change and hearing the striking range of Hines’ voice, it comes as no surprise to learn that he was once John Lennon in a Beatles cover band called The Roaches. While attempting to launch his own solo career while living in Chicago, Hines received one of the most important emails of his life. It was from Brendan Benson who, besides being a successful solo artist and a member of The Raconteurs, had just created his own record label called Readymade Records. Soon Hines was living in Nashville and recording his new album with the help of Benson. He opened for The Raconteurs in the fall of 2011 at The Tabernacle Atlanta in Georgia, and will be touring with Benson this year in May.
Give Me My Change is a captivating listen from start to finish. It starts off with “Young Again”- a short, bluesy tune reflective of something the Black Keys might whip up, then the rest of the album follows, taking so many turns along the way. “Give Me My Change” drops the F-bomb a couple times and belts out about corruption with a power similar to Jack White’s. “Don’t Break My Fall” switches to a feeling of indifferent love that’s too happy to sound like Elliot Smith musically, yet something, perhaps vulnerability, still provokes the thought that the two are alike.
Undertones of 90’s pop are heard on “I Ask This of You” and “Better Things,” while“Helter Skelter” screams erupt from “No One Knows” and “Can’t Explode.” The Beatles influence is also audible on “Rainy Day,” in which Hines is clearly channeling the voice of Lennon. The closing track, “Forever Young,” perfectly compiles the general feel of the album: upbeat, Beatles-esque, folk rock. Opening with the question, “What are they gonna call me when I get old?” Hines seems to be sending a message directly to the listener, informing them that he can stand the test of time: “Forever young, forever young/ I feel a part of it all/ Forever young, forever young/ For all space and time.”
