There's something distinctly vintage about Richard Hawley's brand of songwriting. Think of him as a storytelling Roy Orbison—from Sheffield, England. The singer nods toward rockabilly as much as the Britpop-era bands from which he emerged, while exploring love with wonderful wordplay. Hawley's rich croon charges the ballads and upbeat numbers on Coles Corner, while Hollow Meadows sees touches of psychedlia blended into his dark, observational songs, adding an epic yet brooding atmosphere.