BlackHawk Album: “Blackhawk”

Blackhawk has a unique sound that will lift your spirits. These three voices create a harmony that mere words can't describe. The instant I first heard "Goodbye Says It All", I knew I'd found my 'new' favorite group. Since then they've continued to produce terrific songs. Even my husband who isn't a country music lover...loves Blackhawk. My children, ages 3 and 5, know all the words by heart and can recognize a Blackhawk song the second it hits the radio.

5 stars for this album isn't enough!

When Blackhawk's music hit the charts I had to have it. I find their music to be uplifting and inspirational! I saw them in concert and was very impressed. It's too bad about the death of one of their band members. I just can't get enough of their music...no disappoints at all for me. If you need to be unlifted just put in this CD it will make your day!

The country purists will scoff. The rock folks will say there's too much twang. The critics will trash it as too mainstream. But in reality, this album is flawless collection of stories wound around a Henry Paul sound that peaked right here. The production on this album is so clean, so rich - and it's rooted in a slick commercialism that merges with an organic minimalism. Paul and his fellow band mates are much like the English trio the Outfield from the late 80's. They are vocal harmony craftsman, taking an ordinary composition and fleshing out all of it's potential. An ordinary song like "Down in Flames" comes to life thanks to some great guitar playing and soloing coupled with the right amount of harmony. The acoustic guitars on this album are played in a way that makes it sound like the strings are inside your ears. "I Sure Can Smell The Rain" is a slow building lament that has string sounds bursting in an out in the form of mandolin, electric guitar and those scintillating acoustics. Henry Paul's voice has a nasal charm and seems to work better than it did when he was a core member of The Outlaws back in the late 1970's. And, yes, you can play this album from start to finish and enjoy every song. There is not even one throwaway. The band would go on to record two more almost perfect records after this one. This epitomized what 90's country offered - a great alternative to all the horrible grunge and mindless rap that had become mainstream fodder on top 40 stations. This is an audio oasis in desert of music on a downward trajectory. A+

The disc I received was brand new in the wrapper. When I opened the case everything seemed OK. Then I started playing the disc and the songs on the disc were not the correct ones. It appears that the wrong album was burned to the CD. With the low cost of the CD it wasn't worth the trouble to try to return it. Lesson learned.

I love Blackhawk because they always have albums that you can listen to straight through and not have to forward a song because you don't like it. Blackhawk is a group that serves as a "gateway" from rock to country. Most of the songs are upbeat and great for in the car on road trips.