Hank Dogs

Hank Dogs are likely to delight fans of the laid-back British folk music of performers such as John Martyn, Kate Rusby, and Nick Drake (who was produced by Joe Boyd, this album's executive producer). It particularly helps if you're fond of oblique lyrics, a somewhat gothic mood, and some Appalachian country blended with the Celtic influences. This is dreamily beautiful music, although it may be too halcyon for those who want some "rock" in their folk and alternative country-rock. The group's main strengths remain the same as on their first album, Bareback: somewhat quirky song structures, Andy Allen's stellar guitar fingerpicking, and the ethereal singing of Piano and Lily. The songwriting on Half Smile might not be as strong as before, but the vocal harmonies and musicianship are tighter; also, this recording doesn't suffer from the occasionally buried vocals and excessive compression that marred its predecessor. The contrast between some of the darker lyrics and the relatively serene music can be jarring at times (e.g., lines such as "Thank you for being honest/And admitting to all your lies" are not sung with the forceful anger that one might expect) and the album could benefit from greater variation in mood. Nonetheless, it still sounds enchanting. ~ Todd Kristel, All Music Guide