On their second album for Nettwerk, these Charlottesville, Virginia, sweethearts dole out their show-famous headbanger string-band sound. As usual, the Hackensaws’ take on the genre is a restless and reeling high-octane blend of bluegrass, jug band, and edgy old-time reels.
Look Out isn’t particularly polished or tuneful, but melodic vocal explorations and studio gloss aren’t the goal here. This album drives harder and rougher than their last, producing a furiously joyous sound. Urgent percussiveness, powered by picking and snare, is the scaffold, as in the sped-up, punked-up traditional “Gospel Plow” (the only non-original tune).
Modest Mouse’s Tom Peloso, Hackensaw co-founder and sometimes band member, wrote two songs and contributes vocals and bass on his classic country tune “Hobo”. All other cuts came from the formal lineup, including the standout “Sally Ann”, a haunting minor-key tune layered with organ and saw. The song conveys a long-held premise of string-band fare: “There are times when all hope is dead/But I believe there are better times ahead.”
