22-year-old Dickenson County, Virginia singer-songwriter Pierceton Hobbs has released his debut album Fawn. In Hobbs’ own words, Fawn is a collection of songs that conveys “my dissatisfaction of this meaningless construct of a society that brings us down…and how that affects me personally.” The album as a whole “represents the stories and testaments from my old faith” and the metaphorical title signifies a fawn as “a fragile creature and easily strayed from a path of yearning. A young fawn’s fight for survival depends on the outcome of its journey to earn its horns.” Fawn was co-produced by Hobbs and Kenny Miles (The Sounds of Rhythm, Wayne Graham) at Fat Baby Studios in Whitesburg, KY and draws inspiration from regional Appalachian music, country, and folk but more specifically the Stanley Brothers, Larry Sparks, Foddershock, as well as his cousin Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse. Hobbs’ backing band was made up of Wayne Graham’s group along with Linda Jean Stokley (Local Honeys). Notable tracks include: the introspective opening track about enjoying a nice day on “Roll On”; the honky-tonk vibed track about how tough times are in coal country “What is a Perception?”; the twangy ode to Hobbs’ partner “Tuck Me In”; the reflective “Exhale”; the trippy melancholic number “The Haint;” the atmospheric cover of Foddershock’s ode to coal miners struggles “Dying to Make a Living”; the mellow country-folk infused title-track; the rambling country tune “Smoke Bud”; and the album closer – a folk version of Sparklehorse’s “Sad and Beautiful World.” Pierceton Hobbs’ debut is a thoughtful venture into different realms of the country genre, resulting in a great listen. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Foddershock, Wayne Graham, Sparklehorse, Larry Sparks, Stanley Brothers