Matt Hawkins - Love, Loss and Washing Lines

​Matt Hawkins

Love, Loss and Washing Lines
self-released; 2022

By Matt Jensen

Matt Hawkins markets himself as “suburban dad acoustic folk pop” and has been making music since the late 1990’s. In that time he was in a band called Waiting for Tom which eventually dissolved and in the not too distant past took out his guitar once again and started to get the drive to make music after reading a book entitled Boy Swallows Universe which led to Love, Loss and Washing Lines.

The album contains twelve songs and definitely has an acoustic folk quality. It’s a warm and comforting album with accessible songs starting with “Bridge of Stories” and you are greeted with strummed acoustic guitar, a 4/4 beat, some piano and bass. It’s a simple song but nicely structured and one of the catchiest songs on the album. I did like the tone and inflection of his vocals right away. The song builds with intensity as it progresses into something more and more triumphant sounding. 

“The Very Thought” is more intimate, pensive and melancholy but quite beautiful. The orchestral strings cry on this song along with ghostly vocal harmonies. Hawkins knocks it out of the park with the vocals. He displays some range here and is able to convey a good amount of emotion. 

“Never Too Far (feat. Aleta Booth)” contained vocal harmonies. The female and male sounded good together. I will admit it wasn’t one of my favorites but was still a solid song. “The Ocean Can’t Hold My Love” is very upbeat and warm with rolling brushes, more acoustic guitar and fantastic work on the fiddle or violin. The song does give you a sense that you can go out and change the world.

A similar energy is created on “Toowoomba” but the song is much more nostalgic not only with the feeling from the instrumentation but the lyrics. Hawkins goes into his past and recalls the innocence and freedom of childhood days but when he sings “we’re finally on our way” it feels like he’s projecting into the future.

The album settles into some the low hum of melancholy on “If I’d Known” and “From Now On.”As the album progresses there are a number of notable songs. Perhaps the most single worthy song is “You’re Not Going Home Like That” while the closer is an introspective “Every Place I Go, There I Am” and one of my personal favorites.

​Some of the songs did have moments that did feel too saccharine for my personal taste. That being said I enjoyed the warm qualities and overall positive vibes that come with this album. Even the more somber songs leave you feeling better. There’s a good amount to appreciate with the top notch production, impressive delivery and solid song writing. Recommended.

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