Conventional Nation (#510) on the Nation DDS.
It’s time you graduate from “by no means heard of him” or “sounds acquainted” to “he’s my new favourite traditionalist” in terms of fielding queries about Hayden Baker. His new album Alive & Effectively is pretty much as good of an entry level as any, and it doesn’t damage that it’s tremendous straightforward to heat as much as from the very first twangy be aware.
Baker’s one in every of these multi-tool conventional nation up-and-comers which you can’t get sufficient of when you’re initiated. He’s an unimaginable guitar participant. Brad Paisley’s on file saying Hayden’s his “new favourite guitarist,” which isn’t any faint reward. Brad is perhaps a little bit bias although. Identical to Paisley, Hayden Baker performs a customized G-Bender Telecaster, which permits Baker to convey that additional aspect of twang to tracks.
Hayden Baker received “Musician of the 12 months” for his guitar expertise on the Texas Nation Music Business Awards again in his residence state earlier this yr. Along with his new album Alive & Effectively although, he’s out to show that he can’t simply decide ’em. He can write and sing ’em too. Those that’ve been following Hayden for some time don’t want convincing of this. His music “Is It Chilly In Oklahoma” made waves on the SCM Prime 25 Playlist beforehand, as did the opening single to this new album “Residence Right into a Home.”
Together with a heavy dose of twang, Hayden Baker songs include tremendous heavy hooks that snag your decrease lip and received’t let go. Co-writing all of the songs on the brand new album, it truly is a high quality specimen of conventional nation songwriting almost cowl to cowl. And by not expending all of his deal with guitar enjoying, the singing on Alive & Effectively stands out as properly.
You’re caught a bit off guard although when Hayden slips in a couple of extra contemporary-styled moments on this album. The second music “What Half Of No” will turn into one in every of your subsequent favourite songs proper out of the field. However when he transitions into a little bit programmed portion in one of many last refrain runs, you suppose to your self, “Did I simply swap over to nation radio?”
The digital drums that start and bisect “I Can’t Repair All the pieces” will even be off-putting to most of the conventional nation followers this file may in any other case attraction to, whereas the album is perhaps method too conventional to search out favor with modern audiences.
But when anybody earns a corridor move to place a couple of radio-friendly components in a music or two, or the latitude to try to broaden the attraction of conventional nation, it’s Hayden Baker. When you roll up on “I Had a Headache As soon as,” all different trespasses are forgiven. And for these seeking to hear what occurs when Hayden’s allowed to to go wild on the Telecaster, be sure to hear all the way in which to the tip of the ultimate music “Nation Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.”
The final music says all of it. With so many younger of us determining the right way to make a residing off of conventional nation music, and determining method to assist broaden the viewers and hold it cool, the nation resurgence will proceed on because of artists like Hayden Baker, and albums like Alive & Effectively.
8.1/10
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