Kurt Retenauer
04/13/10, 09:02 AM
Hailey, It Happens - Everything For You
Record Label: None
Release Date: October 10, 2009
I know, I know, you probably think Owl City ripped off The Postal Service, and that Adam Young lacks true originality and passion. Go ahead, say it; “Fireflies sounds just like Such Great Heights!” I know you’re thinking it.
But, before you’re quick to dismiss any more synth-pop acts as The Postal Service rip-offs, and claim all synth-pop acts from this point forward will be imitations of The Postal Service, allow me to introduce you to Hailey, It Happens: a band that incorporates passionate lyrics along with warm synthesizers that will tickle the fancy of many, and offer a shimmer of hope amongst many other “run of the mill” acts. No, this is not a jab at Owl City in particular, but rather the many other indistinguishable synth-pop acts. While many other bands of this genre are dismissed as “fun music,” “guilty pleasures,” or “just plain bad,” by some, Hailey, It Happens is an act to take pride in appreciating, in a rather underappreciated genre.
The clustering of instruments in “Saturday Night Fever” shows Hailey, It Happens’ natural inclination to throw together what doesn’t fit, but somehow make it fit, and fit well. Imagine a song that begins like “Kill The Messenger” by Jack’s Mannequin, only to swarm into dizzying synthesizers. As far as vocals as concerned, let’s just say that Chris Cleary’s vocals are a breath of fresh air in comparison to his auto tuned predecessors. Singing “I’m tired of this petty dance, because you and I, we know the steps by heart,” Cleary tells the story of romance through the perspective of a dance, which also breaks from the cookie-cutter “I’m-outside-your-window” type songs.
The piano plays a much more prominent role in “Frequency,” which provides the accompaniment to fuzzy synthesizers and spastic tap pads, all of which attribute to one of the stronger songs on the EP. The sugary nature of the keyboard tones and lyrics such as “You lift me up when I’m lost in a moment,” will be enough to give pop fans a fix, and the delicate piano and hazy keyboards provide a brief moment of respite, only to kick back into the catchy chorus and verses.
While “A Song For The End of the Night” continues on the same fun, pop-dance route, while prior tracks “Stay” and “The Pilot” delve into a more soulful sound. The keyboards and tap pads take a mid-tempo approach, which break from the peppy forerunners. The change in tempo prevents the EP from becoming stagnant, and show that Hailey, It Happens can be just as delightful when toned down. The tossing of a hazy synthesizer into “The Pilot” blends together well with the programming and takes front seat as the looping piano is a delicate finishing touch.
Hailey, It Happens would like to thank The Gaslight Anthem for their last song, titled “Young Girls Break Hearts.” However, this is no ’59 Sound. In fact, while “We Came To Dance” takes an upbeat approach, “Young Girls Break Hearts” makes for a relaxing culmination to the EP. Slow, dreary keys replace the spastic tap pads and laser-esque synthesizers, and Chris Cleary’s vocals show their strongest side in this beautiful ballad.
Everything For You is a promising debut from front to back. The upbeat tracks are just as good as the mid-tempo tracks, and the varying nature makes this a rather impressive and versatile EP. With the “drive with the windows down” melodies to the “get on your dancing shoes” vibes on each track, Hailey, It Happens is taking a bold step into synth-pop, and it’s a step that should send shockwaves to the genre. Forget what you think about how “Owl City ripped off The Postal Service,” because Hailey, It Happens is living proof that there is originality and depth in this genre. It’s not that Owl City is bad. In fact, I love Owl City. But the comparisons are growing tiresome. And, to those that think they’ve got this genre all figured out by labeling everything a Postal Service rip off: think again.
I once heard someone say, “Every synth-pop band I’ve heard is missing something, like dark chocolate when I wanted milk chocolate.” Consider Hailey, It Happens the milk chocolate to fill your sweet tooth, bursting with consistency, and consider Everything For You the disc to spin all summer long.
synthesized pop; Owl City - Ocean Eyes; genuinely good pop music; The Taylor Swift Official Thread's resident Chris Cleary
myspace.com/haileyithappens (http://www.myspace.com/haileyithappens)
Record Label: None
Release Date: October 10, 2009
I know, I know, you probably think Owl City ripped off The Postal Service, and that Adam Young lacks true originality and passion. Go ahead, say it; “Fireflies sounds just like Such Great Heights!” I know you’re thinking it.
But, before you’re quick to dismiss any more synth-pop acts as The Postal Service rip-offs, and claim all synth-pop acts from this point forward will be imitations of The Postal Service, allow me to introduce you to Hailey, It Happens: a band that incorporates passionate lyrics along with warm synthesizers that will tickle the fancy of many, and offer a shimmer of hope amongst many other “run of the mill” acts. No, this is not a jab at Owl City in particular, but rather the many other indistinguishable synth-pop acts. While many other bands of this genre are dismissed as “fun music,” “guilty pleasures,” or “just plain bad,” by some, Hailey, It Happens is an act to take pride in appreciating, in a rather underappreciated genre.
The clustering of instruments in “Saturday Night Fever” shows Hailey, It Happens’ natural inclination to throw together what doesn’t fit, but somehow make it fit, and fit well. Imagine a song that begins like “Kill The Messenger” by Jack’s Mannequin, only to swarm into dizzying synthesizers. As far as vocals as concerned, let’s just say that Chris Cleary’s vocals are a breath of fresh air in comparison to his auto tuned predecessors. Singing “I’m tired of this petty dance, because you and I, we know the steps by heart,” Cleary tells the story of romance through the perspective of a dance, which also breaks from the cookie-cutter “I’m-outside-your-window” type songs.
The piano plays a much more prominent role in “Frequency,” which provides the accompaniment to fuzzy synthesizers and spastic tap pads, all of which attribute to one of the stronger songs on the EP. The sugary nature of the keyboard tones and lyrics such as “You lift me up when I’m lost in a moment,” will be enough to give pop fans a fix, and the delicate piano and hazy keyboards provide a brief moment of respite, only to kick back into the catchy chorus and verses.
While “A Song For The End of the Night” continues on the same fun, pop-dance route, while prior tracks “Stay” and “The Pilot” delve into a more soulful sound. The keyboards and tap pads take a mid-tempo approach, which break from the peppy forerunners. The change in tempo prevents the EP from becoming stagnant, and show that Hailey, It Happens can be just as delightful when toned down. The tossing of a hazy synthesizer into “The Pilot” blends together well with the programming and takes front seat as the looping piano is a delicate finishing touch.
Hailey, It Happens would like to thank The Gaslight Anthem for their last song, titled “Young Girls Break Hearts.” However, this is no ’59 Sound. In fact, while “We Came To Dance” takes an upbeat approach, “Young Girls Break Hearts” makes for a relaxing culmination to the EP. Slow, dreary keys replace the spastic tap pads and laser-esque synthesizers, and Chris Cleary’s vocals show their strongest side in this beautiful ballad.
Everything For You is a promising debut from front to back. The upbeat tracks are just as good as the mid-tempo tracks, and the varying nature makes this a rather impressive and versatile EP. With the “drive with the windows down” melodies to the “get on your dancing shoes” vibes on each track, Hailey, It Happens is taking a bold step into synth-pop, and it’s a step that should send shockwaves to the genre. Forget what you think about how “Owl City ripped off The Postal Service,” because Hailey, It Happens is living proof that there is originality and depth in this genre. It’s not that Owl City is bad. In fact, I love Owl City. But the comparisons are growing tiresome. And, to those that think they’ve got this genre all figured out by labeling everything a Postal Service rip off: think again.
I once heard someone say, “Every synth-pop band I’ve heard is missing something, like dark chocolate when I wanted milk chocolate.” Consider Hailey, It Happens the milk chocolate to fill your sweet tooth, bursting with consistency, and consider Everything For You the disc to spin all summer long.
synthesized pop; Owl City - Ocean Eyes; genuinely good pop music; The Taylor Swift Official Thread's resident Chris Cleary
myspace.com/haileyithappens (http://www.myspace.com/haileyithappens)