Blake Solomon
12/11/08, 03:27 PM
Abbott Hayes - Giving Myself Away
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: Fall 2008
Who?
Abbott Hayes is a puppy dog grown old. And I know, old is totally out right now, but humor me for a second. Picture the naïve playfulness of a puppy, except it comes with the maturity and no-pooping-inside qualities of a much older dog. The dusty - in an alt-country sense - pop-rock and pitch perfect vocals marry together here into a nice little bit of head bobbing. Excitement and newness are both lacking, sure, but in these troubled times having something reliable around is exponentially better.
How Is It?
Maybe that paragraph reeks a little too much of backhanded insults, but oh well. I’ll tell you right now Giving Myself Away isn’t going to knock your socks off. However, piano-accompanied melodies (“Mountains”), lovelorn acoustic numbers (“How It Got Started”) and coffee shop-tempo rock (“Just As Well”) all make appearances, which makes the album more diverse than you’re probably expecting. Abbott Hayes do an admirable job keeping the listener interested by switching styles within the greater pop-rock umbrella. Any style you happen to love from the genre is probably on here, so don’t be surprised if someone you wouldn't expect loves this record. “Year After Year” does off-the-cuff Midwest college rock about as good as it can be done. Slight guitar twangs, rustic synths and happy-go-lucky lyrics are perfect for one of those spontaneous singalong moments with the dudes. This is conversational music that can unite all types, and it’s nice to hear some thoughtfully created pop-music that isn’t content attracting the same ol’ fans. I reckon Abbott Hayes will find the incremental new business they're after.
Recommended If You Like: Alaska & Me, Jack's Mannequin, integration, One Small Step for Landmines, campaignable, other buzzwords I can't remember (what are you favorites??)
www.myspace.com/abbotthayes
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: Fall 2008
Who?
Abbott Hayes is a puppy dog grown old. And I know, old is totally out right now, but humor me for a second. Picture the naïve playfulness of a puppy, except it comes with the maturity and no-pooping-inside qualities of a much older dog. The dusty - in an alt-country sense - pop-rock and pitch perfect vocals marry together here into a nice little bit of head bobbing. Excitement and newness are both lacking, sure, but in these troubled times having something reliable around is exponentially better.
How Is It?
Maybe that paragraph reeks a little too much of backhanded insults, but oh well. I’ll tell you right now Giving Myself Away isn’t going to knock your socks off. However, piano-accompanied melodies (“Mountains”), lovelorn acoustic numbers (“How It Got Started”) and coffee shop-tempo rock (“Just As Well”) all make appearances, which makes the album more diverse than you’re probably expecting. Abbott Hayes do an admirable job keeping the listener interested by switching styles within the greater pop-rock umbrella. Any style you happen to love from the genre is probably on here, so don’t be surprised if someone you wouldn't expect loves this record. “Year After Year” does off-the-cuff Midwest college rock about as good as it can be done. Slight guitar twangs, rustic synths and happy-go-lucky lyrics are perfect for one of those spontaneous singalong moments with the dudes. This is conversational music that can unite all types, and it’s nice to hear some thoughtfully created pop-music that isn’t content attracting the same ol’ fans. I reckon Abbott Hayes will find the incremental new business they're after.
Recommended If You Like: Alaska & Me, Jack's Mannequin, integration, One Small Step for Landmines, campaignable, other buzzwords I can't remember (what are you favorites??)
www.myspace.com/abbotthayes