Rough Edge: The Handful CD Reviews

THE HANDFUL

"Wooden Indian" (True Rock; 2011)

The Handful is from New Jersey and they have some great grooving guitar. It's stoner rock only because the music sounds like Molly Hatchet did back in the day. You can hear a more mature Mark Duda on this (their third disc) and he's got a powerful, raspy voice. This is the type of music that makes your drive to work more bearable because it's got guts and groove.

"Wooden Indian" has fourteen tracks of muscle guitar with tough vocals. The drums and bass are solid and each song has a hook. The slower tracks showcase the vocal talents of Duda and he often sounds like Danny Joe Brown. The Handful also has a southern style to their sound; they can sound like the Outlaws and Lynyrd Skynyrd. If you are looking for a disc that puts stoner rock back into your music rotation then pick up "Wooden Indian" by The Handful.

The Handful: Mark Duda (vocals, guitar, background vocals), Matt Watkins (guitar), Jason Mischel (piano, Hammond b-3 organ, percussion), Ruben Badillo (drums, percussion), Andrew Duda (background vocals).

Check out some of The Handful's music at www.thehandful.com or www.myspace.com/thehandful.

"Second Hand Smoke" (True Rock; 2006)

Reviewed by Snidermann

Storytelling is such a large part of a quality rock'n'roll band. Sometimes, if the musicians and vocalists are good enough, that's enough to create a good CD.

Fortunately, The Handful has more than enough, judging from their CD, "Second Hand Smoke." This band tells a story better than most of the other bands out there. Storylines are this band's bread and butter and one finely crafted song follows another on this terrific release.

Each tune sucks you in like a good movie or a good book and leaves you in any mood the band wishes to put you in. The Handful remind me of some great story telling bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Rolling Stones or The Who. Yes, this band is that good, period.

Check out some of The Handful's music at www.thehandful.com or www.myspace.com/thehandful.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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