I See Hawks In L.A.
Shoulda Been Gold
American Beat Records
visit the band's website
also available on amazon
This disc is a wonderful collection of songs that shoulda gone gold (at least according to the band), however they never made it to that status; and it includes songs that have never before been released. This might even be a band you have never heard of, but you should have if you are a fan of country music that isn’t made in Nashville, the generally much better Texas variety, or even the outlaw genre. It is more the pure country that is infused with Rock-a-Billy, a more up beat music that leans toward good songwriting and choral harmonies, with occasional sonic outbursts to drive the music forward. Music you might get if you put on hank Williams, or Patsy Cline, or possibly even Gram Parsons. The music that came from the Country and not from Nashville’s hit shops where the sounds are so homogenized.
This is a 4-man group and Rob Waller handles lead vocal and acoustic guitar; Paul Lacques is guitars, lap steel, Dobro, and vocals; Paul Marshall does bass and vocals; and there
is Shawn Nourse on drums. They are ably assisted by about 15 other musicians to round out the sound with special notice going to John McDuffie and Dave Zirbel for their excellent pedal steel work, which really helps set the tone and mood of the disc. This is one of those groups with a very quirky name, but very good songwriting and playing. Eleven of the songs were written by Rob Waller and Paul Lacques; 3 by Rob, Paul and Anthony Jacques; and one by Paul alone and one by Rob alone, and the last song by B.J. Bourgoin. The songs are literate and good stories and some display a good sense of humor. If you haven’t heard them this is a good introduction.