This is a solid solo release from Hawkes, who has done time with the Underground and Warm. The opener, "Better Place", is packed with a super-fat slap bass around which the other instruments crowd for room. The album continues with this crowded feeling, like a club floor bursting with sweaty bodies, all moving to a single dominating groove. At times, such as the sexy and syncopated "Station" the mood is pure seduction. On "Tell Me", the mood lightens to a breezy jam over a crisp drum loop, while "Son to Shine" gives listeners a twisted funk workout. Intermixed with the various other styles is a healthy dose of jazz. This is especially apparent in the extended codas of tracks like "Did I Make You Worry". Although the vocals have ended, Hawkes and crew are so attached to the emotion that they continue exploring and succeed in pushing the song to the next level. No matter the direction, Hawkes displays strong songwriting and dependable performances on these ten tracks.

While these traits would make a good album in and of themselves, it's ultimately the small, subtle touches that give Make You Worry its appeal. With the help of producer Brent Bodrug (Alanis Morrisette, Son), Hawkes brings the tracks to life, adding slight keyboard flourishes to the right spots. Whereas "Tell Me" would make a pleasant song if left unadorned, the synthesizer work that bubbles inside the chorus and teases the edges of verses makes it burst out of the clouds like a sudden sunbeam. Similarly, the addition of Prince-like vocal harmonies to "I Wanna Be There" makes a mid-tempo funk track really swing. The final, untitled track combines both keyboard swoops with soulful female guest vocals to create an alluring mood. While the songs themselves are enough for an entertaining record, the time spent fleshing them out in inventive ways is what makes Make You Worry an enduring record.