When people like Fred Eaglesmith, Todd Snider and Corb Lund speak so highly of Austin’s Hayes Carll, you know he is worth a listen.
Not only does he put on a hell of a show, but his new ‘CD KMAG YOYO ( And Other American Stories)’ is equal parts Bob Dylan, Todd Snider and a little bit of a countrified Lou Reed.
I love Carll’s world-wearied yet witty take on the darker side of post 9-11 America.
The CD grabs you from the start with Steve Earle-style upbeat country rocker “Stomp and Holler,” and shows some of his quirky side with “Hard Out Here.”
The title track is inspirational as Carll covers a lot of ground, Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick blues” style in just over four minutes telling the story of a young soldier who goes to Afghanistan, decides to make extra money “turning poppies into heroin” then gets caught, ends up as an astronaut or spy and has a lot of other weird things happen to him before deciding to join the Peace Corps. It also features a very cool high octane guitar solo and an unstoppable groove.
No less inspirational is Carll’s skewed take on a relationship between two very different people on “Another Like You.” It is a duet with Cary Ann Hearst who is no less humourously irreverent and sounds a little like Kellie Pickler.
His wit shines through on slower numbers like “the Letter.”
Throughout his voice has a distinct Todd Snider timbre to it, with Bob Dylan lyrical flow and Todd Snider wit. Indeed, Snider himself as well as Corb Lung sing vocals on “Bottle In my Hand,” one of the CD’s major highlights. The upbeat tracks like “Loving Cup,” are the best parts of this CD.
Musically there are all sorts of things happening from sweet, subdued dobro on “the letter,” to Carll on Banjo on “Bottle In my Hand.”
Carll is more than just a “drunk with a pen” as he sings on “Hard Out Here,” he is a poet and in fact a monster talent who deserves to be heard.
