The HawtThorns (from the album Zero Gravity

The HawtThorns (from the album Zero Gravity

The HawtThorns (from the album Zero Gravity on Red Parlor Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Like Lucy and Desi, Sonny and Cher, and — we suppose — Bonnie and Clyde, The HawtThorns offer proof that married couples can maintain both a personal and professional relationship. Never mind the fact that things didn’t turn out all that well for the aforementioned duos. Given that this East Nashville-based husband and wife  — vocalist and guitarist KP Hawthorn and guitarist/vocalist Johnny Hawthorn — have now added a third album to their collective resume says something about their staying power. Indeed, they create a vibrant sound, flush with ringing guitars, shimmering harmonies, and the rich arrangements contributed by an all-star team of studio pros, including keyboardist and percussionist Jano Rix, bassist and producer Ted Pecchio, drummer Nick Buda, guitarist Chris Condon, and harmony singer Alice Wallace.

So too, the HawtThorns have their own individual expertise — KP co-founded the L.A. Americana group Calico the Band while Johnny not only fronted his own outfit, but also toured with Toad the Wet Sprocket and Everclear. To a certain extent, those early influences show up here — particularly in the upbeat and effusive opening track, ”Nothing but A Shadow”, the giddy groove of “Hands on a Clock”, the rousing repast of “Faking It”, and the rocking revelry that informs “Save This One”.  Yet nowhere is that infectious approach more evident than in the album’s sole non-original — an exuberant and infectious take on the Everly Brothers standard, “When Will I Be Loved”. While the original intent may have been to convey a sense of pining and pessimism, KP’s celebratory singing conveys an opposite effect.

While most of Zero Gravity (the name obviously implies both a boundless energy and an upward gaze) maintains that utter exhilaration, there are songs that opt for more comfort and caress. The ethereal strains of the title track, the easy sway given “Long Game”, and the meditative musings of “Save This One” are the most obvious examples.

Still, as its title suggests, Zero Gravity conveys a consistently buoyant attitude from its first track to its last, underscoring The HawtThorns’ harmonious connection both between themselves and the world as well. That in itself is reason enough for listeners to gravitate towards all it has to offer. (By Lee Zimmerman)
Listen and buy the music of The HawtThorns from AMAZON
 
For more information, head to The HawtThorns website