SEAN HAYES

Flowering Spade

2007-07-10

This album won me over within the first song, upon hearing the mellow warbly sound of Hayes’ voice and the gentle, confident guitar strums. Mostly, that’s what you hear; guitar (or banjo) and voice, but actually there are other crucial musical things happening that have been so delicately placed that you almost don’t notice them…even while enjoying it. Hayes roped in some very reputable avant-guarde jazz and post pop musicians from NYC, LA and from his home city, San Francisco, to play on this disc. In spite of these wonderful, and important additions, the songs never seem cluttered or busy. The music is so efficient that I had to listen a few times before I noticed a clarinet and an accordion in some songs, yet they very much add to the tunes. He’s often compared to Devendra Banhart, and I would agree, but would say that Hayes is more subtle and slightly less esoteric than Banhart. He is currently touring with Jolie Holland…which makes a lot of sense in that I believe they would appeal to the same crowd. All 13 songs on Flowering Spade are by Hayes. It is his 5th release, but his 1st studio recording. I second the quote from NPR’s All Things Considered; His “songs radiate a shaggy, free-spirited charm that rarely seems attached to any particular era”. Becky

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 12/2005

    MARTHA BERNER
    This Side of Yesterday

  • reviewed 05/2011

    Bob Schneider
    A Perfect Day

  • reviewed 05/2009

    LEONARD COHEN
    SELECTIONS FROM LIVE IN LONDON

  • reviewed 02/2017

    Scott Nolan
    Silverhill

  • reviewed 05/2010

    KRISTY HANSON
    Into the Quiet

  • reviewed 11/2006

    COWBOY JUNKIES
    Long Journey Home

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.