Ted Hawkins

I>Happy Hour, the second album in Hawkins' convoluted career, will be revelatory to any newcomers. A street performer who preferred the Venice Beach boardwalk to the studio, his music is a mixture of soul, blues and country, sung in a raspy voice that is not easily forgotten. "Bad Dog" is one of his signature tunes.

This L.A.-based folk bluesman can bring you up short by latching onto homely details or just telling the embarrassing truth. I'll never forget "Bad Dog" ("What's the reason your dog don't bark at that man?") or "You Pushed My Head Away" ("Baby that sucker had to learn too"). But the unaffected can also be naive, and the unsophisticated can also be received. To ignore how often he falls into both traps is to condescend to an artist who deserves our respect. (Grade - B)