The Truth Will Set You Free

Music to Set You Free, Los Angeles City Beat
"The Year's Best Albums" by Chris Morris

"5. James Hand, The Truth Will Set You Free (Rounder). This veteran of Texas’s small-town beer joints rode in on a time machine this year: His debut, produced by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel and Natalie Maines’s pappy Lloyd, is a glorious honky-tonk throwback reminiscent all at once of Hank Senior, George Jones, and Ray Price."

Notable Music of 2006
CD Reviews by Ken Tucker, NPR - Fresh Air from WHYY

"James Hand, The Truth Will Set You Free (Rounder) -- Hand has got that old-fashioned/new-fangled country music dichotomy down in a way that few performers can imagine, let alone execute so smoothly."

Underground sensation James Hand makes his Opry debut

By Ron Wynn, Nashville City Paper October 27, 2006

"Things are changing daily and dramatically for traditional country vocalist and songwriter James Hand, whose deep, poignant voice and simple, dramatic stories have made him a regional favorite in his native state of Texas and throughout the Southwest for many years.

But now Hand’s getting major national exposure thanks to his exceptional Rounder debut The Truth Will Set You Free. He’s making his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night, and following that up with a slot on the Midnite Jamboree, and Hand confesses rare nervousness about the impending gigs."

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'Road To Austin' Concert Draws Thousands
KEYE TV, Austin

"From country to rock -- all the bases were covered. Country singer James Hand performed as well as Austin's own Joe Ely."