Search - Plush :: More You Becomes You

On Plush's debut album, Liam Hayes boldly embraces the abstract guise of a '60s singer-songwriter stuck in the late 1990s. Accompanied solely by his own piano playing, Hayes's vocal performances initially sound more like rough pop blueprints than a finished body of work. With repeated listenings, however, the man's innate gift for great melodies becomes apparent and his songs take on a vaguely familiar feel. While the influences of Burt Bacharach, the Beatles, and Badfinger are readily apparent, More You Becomes You is actually an extremely distinctive affair. In a vein similar to musicians like Harry Nilsson and Jimmy Webb, Hayes composes heavenly pop ballads and sings them with near-regal intensity. Romantic, delicate, and engaging, Hayes is an exceptional songwriter with an unusual vision. --Mitch Myers