Album Details

• Artist: The Haywards
• Album: Side One/one Side
• Label: Ionik
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2008-10-29

There is a smoldering undercurrent to this seemingly good natured, experimental pop record. Singer-songwriter David Enright manipulates a variety of styles and delivers them with an off the cuff, aw-shucks manner. But listen deeper. The lyrics betray tales of loss and madness, world-weariness bordering on breakdown.

You might be lulled by the lush intentions of tracks like "I Meant Well," or the piano-driven, ditty-feel of the opener, "A Lot of People Fall In Love In The Key of C," but, as with all the tracks here, Enright's voice betrays the light let in by the melodies. For all the compositional variants, this is a blues record, and a decidedly personal blues.

That is more explicit on the slide guitar driven "Drool Cup," a stark departure from the default up-tempo melodies. Yet even the gorgeous "I Meant Well" speaks to hard lessons learned, to aftermath of things gone wrong.

"Side one/One side" is a brooding little gem hiding beneath piano, pop and whimsy. This is a record you feel as you listen, like the conversation it is. Enright/Haywards bare a lot of soul, and bring complex chops to the table that only ought to become more subtle and powerful with age.

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