Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
An album that just makes you want to shout out “yeehaw!” at the top of your lungs. But not because it’s some Americana juggernaut, though one might expect that from a band with roots in red state Kentucky. Indeed comparisons have been made to Mars Volta, and for good reason—these are extremely complex songs laden with superb hooks and ingenious songwriting. Notable track is “Throwing Stones (And Aiming High)” with its soaring melodies and synth/guitar layering. This is a band you must pay close attention to—they’re going places quick. - Smother Magazine
This CD wings its way to us all the way from Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The first thing I noticed was the quality of the CD printing and sleeves, so good that I was looking for a record company logo. The next thing to hit me was the quality of the recording – professional standard in all aspects from performance to production to mixing. The Hawk have obviously invested many dollars in to making this 6 track debut recording and releasing it themselves.
Thankfully, the band has the songs to match. ‘Tied With Many Strings’ is an eclectic collection moving from alt rock through vaudeville and theatrical histrionics to brooding blues with nods to Flaming Lips, Jeff Buckley and, dare I say it, Queen along the way.
Vocalist Josh Hawkins eerily echoes Jeff Buckley with his use of his full range which barely falls short of Buckley’s famously wide range and it is Hawkin’s voice which is the star of record. Take nothing away from the rest of the band as they more than ably play the songs which Hawkins has written, sorry, crafted. The exceptional musicianship pushes the mini-album to higher breathtaking excellence and the recording budget even extended to some strings and horns.
Rarely since the heyday of Queen has a band dipped in to so many different musical styles and, personally, it is refreshing to see a band willing to diversify their sound and not follow strict templates that some many other acts do these days. How many other bands out there at the moment use what is effectively a waltz in their arrangements?
I can not heartily recommend The Hawks highly enough. This could well be one of the best CD’s I have received to review in the 3 years since HeathenAngel started. Seek it out on iTunes, you are unlikely to be disappointed. - Heathen Angel (UK)
Discography
Tied With Tiny Strings [EP]
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Josh Hawkins has been roaming the rock venues of the Midwest with his band, The Hawk, for the past year and a half--building a powerful following around a ferocious live show and a front man with the range of Buckley and the brazenness of a carnival barker. Supporting his 2006 EP, Tied With Tiny Strings marked the debut recording by this genre-jumping band of musical misfits, Josh Hawkins will be embarking on his first solo tour that will take him throughout the Midwest, East Coast, UK and Greece through 2006.
Hawkins cut his teeth playing guitar with some of Louisville’s most well-known independent bands like dharmachine, the simple and Waterproof Blonde. Facing the decision to potentially step up into the limelight and front his own band, Josh immediately began writing a substantial amount of songs driven by a desire for diversity of style and melody… challenging the listener and the musician. While honing these new songs at smaller solo performances, Josh began building The Hawk member by member in late 2004.
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