Hayden preview

Hayden
Schubas, Chicago
Saturday, June 28, 2008

The standout track on Hayden’s fifth full-length, In Field & Town (Fat Possum), is also the album’s shortest number. “Weight Of The World” wisps by in less than two minutes, leaving a vapor trail of loveliness that just begs for another verse. Rolling acoustic guitar, a sweet harmonica interlude, and the honeyed vocals of Australian singer Holly Throsby contribute to the tune’s comforting glow.

The album’s 10 remaining songs fail to match the swooning ballad, however, affecting as they may be. On “Barely Friends” Paul Hayden Desser could make a case for becoming an honorary Austin-ite by adorning his resigned vocals with a whimpering pedal steel guitar.

The Ontario native borders on control freakdom with his insistence on playing almost every part in his band of one. The title track bounces like trees flushed together when viewed from a moving vehicle. The hint of metallic scraping peaks through the wall of sound like driving with a muffler dragging from the car and the radio turned up too loud as to not notice. This cause of this must be, according to the liner notes, courtesy of a “Chicago toy.”

Maybe it is a muffler after all?

—Janine Schaults

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly