To say that I See Hawks in L.A. traipse down a going-their-own-way path through that old folky Americana and classic California country rock thing doesn’t quite begin to describe the sheer scope of this band’s wiiiide-open vision. The short version is, they’re adding much-needed musical and lyrical complexity to the old forms, blending and stretching both the emotional and sonic terrain to thrillingly new and unfamiliar points beyond. Hear it for y’self to best effect yet on the band’s new Mystery Drug, another wickedly surreal blast of psychedelicized country and rock and poetic honkytonk chops courtesy band founders Rob Waller and Paul and Anthony Lacques (sensational instrumentalists all), along with a cred-heavy bunch of guest players who’ve plied their wares with the likes of Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris and Hazel & Alice.
— By John Payne