Hayden - Are We Good

I had to check exactly when Canadian artist Hayden Desser (Hayden) released his first album, Everything I Long For. Turns out it was in 1995, approximately a thousand years ago. My first book was still a couple of years in the future and felt like it might never happen, and I remember thinking that this album of Hayden’s should be a required text at schools and universities. It was raw and it was polished, roundabout and direct, sentimental and wrenching. I was immensely jealous of his gift for story-telling, his way with both words and music. I imagined a lasting love affair. (A career in real estate, by the way, had never crossed my mind. I’d have said you were mad.)

Anyway, life got in the way. I drifted off and lost track. Eventually started flogging houses. I saw Hayden walking on Queen St West years later, down by Terroni’s I think it was, and even though it was other music that had my attention by then, I was still a bit starstruck. And I went home and did some catching up. I’ve been tuning in, albeit more intermittently, ever since.

I saw yesterday that he has released a new album, Are We Good, his first in about eight years. I was thrilled, it arrives at the right time for me. I’m ready for it. There were mentions in the reviews of Feist singing on a track or two, and Matt Berninger (The National) bringing his pen, and Aaron Dessner lending a production hand. Steve Buscemi was in a video for one of the singles. It felt like a concentration of talent so potent it surely had to disappoint, didn’t it?

The short answer is no, not at all. It’s a very good album. It will soundtrack this season for me and probably next season too. That video with Steve Buscemi in it (and others too) is titled “On A Beach” and once it hits its stride it’s a far brighter, poppier piece than I usually like. It’s also sweet and clever and altogether charming. Interestingly, what happens when I listen to such pretty things, or watch them, is that I become sad. I don’t know exactly what that’s all about, though I do have some ideas, and I don’t think I’m alone in that sort of reaction. Which means I’m a little sad right now, because I’ve just watched it again and it really is lovely. I’d give a lot, in fact, to be able to enjoy it in as pure a fashion as Hayden and Feist seem to enjoy their walk along a sunlit beach.

Hayden will be in Kingston on May 23rd at the Isabel Bader Rehearsal Hall. Here’s the link.