Not to be confused with
the Cars' keyboardist,
Greg Hawks is a seasoned, rootsy North Carolina-based singer/songwriter/guitarist who has performed with
Two Dollar Pistols and other area bands. Although not a particularly distinctive vocalist, he delivers his traditional, stripped-down honky tonk tunes with verve and sincerity, and his backing musicians accompany him with low-key charm. Likened to a cross between
Buck Owens and
Bruce Springsteen (whose "Tougher Than the Rest" he covers here), Hawks doesn't have as unique a voice or presentation as either of those legends. Actually there's a bit of
Gram Parsons' melancholy loneliness to his vocals and sorrowful tales of lost/broken/dissipated love. The album's consistent mid-tempo groove becomes monotonous, and although the songs are solid, change-ups in rhythms and a shot of adrenaline would make them stand out more prominently. The dry, slightly muffled production doesn't help either, as it buries these tracks in a dull mix that causes even the better tunes to fade into the fabric. A faithful cover of
the Everly Brothers' "Brand New Heartache" also fails to light any fires. Undoubtedly a talented singer and songwriter,
Fool's Paradise only intermittently displays Hawks' attributes in their best light. More often it's a frustrating listen since the melodies show him to be a dedicated songsmith with strong potential, but the tepid album never comes to life. It's yet another well-intentioned but unspectacular entry into the crowded roots/Americana field. There's not enough tremblin' going on. ~ Hal Horowitz