Search - Hayden :: Skyscraper National Park

I'm Not a Fan & I Love It!

mike | 04/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hayden is a remarkable musician. I stumbled across the gorgeous "Dynamite Walls" on my new Dell computer. It has to be one of the most enveloping songs I've heard and I Loved it! Then I went and got the CD and was again stunned by the simplicity and beauty of the music. It was nice to hear the country tinges, as I am a country fan, among every other genre. I am surprised and happy that I found Hayden's talent and I can't wait to discover more!"

Brilliant

mike | Philadelphia, PA | 01/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Its truly the only word to describe the songwriting involved with this recording. I fell in love immediately upon hearing this album. The country theme contained within the overall mood of the music is light, but detectable. In a way its a very quiet and soothing break from most of the subtle baggage that comes attatched to most singer/songwriter efforts. In a way, you can describe this as a very "no frills" record. His songwriting is sincere, honest, and at times very graphic, yet tasteful (for the best example of this, listen to track 8 "Bass Song" and you'll know my point exactly). As a whole, this album is not in any means a savior to a genre of mediocre country tinged musicians and their eager fans (hey maybe it is, but who am I to get one's hopes up too much), but its a great album for when you're out driving or sitting around on a rainy day. This is definitely ear candy at its finest, but with excellent messages to back it all up. Get into this, please. Then, get the live album. You will be in for a treat.
For fans of: Clem Snide, Wilco, Elliott Smith."

I knew I would like this CD.

A music fan | somewhere in Maryland | 11/04/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I knew, never having heard of Hayden, that I would like "Skyscraper National Park" when I saw the cover art.



Really. I have picked many a record that way, and any football bettor would want a system that has worked as well as it has. It didn't hurt that the reviews were positive and the man's recording technique so, well, not unique but let's say unusual. One can see -- actually see and hear -- why Neil Young would be attracted to him; one might also wonder why Neil wouldn't hate the guy. There aren't too many people who could bring off Young's acoustic-ballad atmosphere and intentionally-off production like Hayden does. (Hayden, as in Valley, as in Yellowstone. And the title too. I knew I would like this record.) He even has the voice down. No, it's not a Neil Young imitation, but he has Neil's knack for coaxing the profound truth out of simple lyrics with spot-on inflection. But back to that cover. Only having seen the moose, I was psyched. When I saw the bear on the back, I thought, contain your enthusiasm, you have neighbors. And imagine when I felt the fiberboard packaging. One can see, hear AND feel why Neil Young might like this guy. He is so not about slick, that's for sure. If nothing else, it is my alltiime favorite CD jacket.



Then I opened the package and read the lyrics to "Dynamite Walls." I didn't know they were that at that moment, but when I heard they were, well, "DW" became my co-favorite on the record with "Street Car." "Tea Pad" rounds out my top three, with "Long Way Down" and "Bass Song" second tier. I suspect the others will grow on me.



And I expect to be playing this one a lot on gray raw days like today. For a long time. It's not perfect. And I think I like that."