This isn't tidy, genre faithful music, folks. "California Country" is a dark and daring turn for the once reclusive Hawks. With "California Country" the Hawks will take you on another surprising journey. Lighting up this landscape are top notch bluegrass mandolin and fiddle from Chris Hillman (Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers), Brantley Kearns (Dwight Yoakam, Hazel and Alice, David Bromberg), and Rick Shea (Dave Alvin Band); Cody Bryant's virtuoso banjo; B-3 and celeste from Danny McGough (Social Distortion, Eleni Mandell); and heavy metal screamer Tommy Funderburk (Boston, Whitesnake, Motley Crue) soaring over the Hawks rich three part harmonies. Simply put, no one's ever written songs like this: playful, deeply but obliquely political, flirting with despair but innocent at the core, boldly literate and complex--and it's country.