Well, get a load of this: coming on like a more muscular version of the Flying Burritos, the Hawks have all the ingredients that'll have you purring with happiness. The country roots come through strong but they like to rock a bit too; the lap steel of Paul Lacques plays a leading role and there's frequent two and three part manly country harmonies. There's banjo,mandolin, dobro and fiddle but also swirling organ and electric guitar solos for the rock side of the equation. So, we've got country rock here, re-configured for the new century and harder edged, musically at least, than the Eagles/Poco etc. school of country rock.
The songs are written for the most part by Paul Lacques and Rob Waller, the latter being the lead vocalist. They have a knack of writing songs with a singalong hook that disguises a frequently dark lyrical heart; they're not exactly bleak but they do take a sceptic's view of the world. In "Midnight in Orlando", disillusioned with Disneyland and the self-improvement conference he's attending the protagonist heads for the swampland :"where at least I know what's dead; the animals they don't greet you, they just eat you instead" .
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As that indicates, they pick unusual material; perhaps most surprising is "Byrd From West Virginia", a song of praise and affection for the aged Senator Robert Byrd who has been trenchant and persistent in his opposition to Dubya's Iraqi adventure. The most fun is "Slash From Guns'n'Roses",which takes the mickey out of L.A. society dos in a gloriously over-the-top folk ballad as rock and roll style.
If I have a problem with them, it is that the lyrics don't always flow and there seems to be a heavy-footedness that grates a bit with more familiarity; when you hear two syllables being rushed to fit them on one beat you feel that they could have done with a bit of re-working. Overall, though, this is fun stuff, and a good sound to have around - especially if you're a fan of the pedal steel.
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