HANK III - YET ANOTHER STEP BACK?

Hank Williams III releases his new double CD this week. To be honest, I could not bring myself to purchase it after listening to a few songs, and researching some of the material.
While it may not be fair to pass judgement without listening to the entire record, there is a track record here and past history suggesting this is yet another step back in what should be a solid music career.
I had the great opportunity to interview Hank III about 5 years ago. He was very gracious, spoke openly and candidly about his music, his fight with his label, and wanting to control his music. Well, this is his second release since gaining that control, and to be honest I am disappointed.
I would like to make one thing quite clear...ANY music Hank III puts out is FAR AND BEYOND better than 95% of what comes out of Nashville today. It is real music...it does show his immense talent and fire to keep his music pure...yet the problem here is you know he can do so much better.
The songs on his new release stretch the realm of the listener due to the length of the songs, varying anywhere from 5 to 9 minutes in length. Within these songs lie the man and his great music...it is just the battle wading through the other carnage at times to find it that is the issue.
This is not a slam to Hank III or his music. As I said, the man has talent far and beyond the typical Nashville joke. Plus, you can not fault a man for carving out his own trail. After all, it is his music, he can certainly do whatever he wants with it. I only wish he finds peace within himself...a happiness that he realizes his music can stand alone...and sit down with his guitar...a mic...and record it. Just the man..a guitar...and a voice. Simple and pure. It would be something amazing.