Skyscraper National Park

Hayden

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Badman Records
• ASIN: B000063DH0
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #181,743 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Street Car

2. Dynamite Walls

3. Steps to Miles

4. I Should Have Been Watching You

5. Long Way Down

6. Tea Pad

7. All in One Move

8. Bass Song

9. Carried Away

10. Looking For You in Me

11. Lullaby

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Bedroom grunge folkie Paul Hayden Desser emerged in the '90s as the acoustic equivalent of an electrified punk-popper, strumming forcefully through bedsit tales of angst and ennui. His stark tunes caught the ear of Neil Young and set off a wild bidding war, though Hayden ended up signing to the fledgling Outpost label for one record. 2001's Skyscraper National Park is everything that Hayden's Outpost disaster, The Closer I Get, was not. While the major-label disc buried the gruff songwriter's melodies beneath big-budget dross, Skyscraper National Park puts Hayden back in his home studio, playing most of the instruments himself and reconnecting with what made him interesting in the first place. Songs like "Streetcar" return to the mope-pop of earlier albums, while the surprisingly funky "Tea Pad" mixes psychedelic fuzz with a shuffle beat. A welcome return. --Matt Galloway

Product Description

Skyscraper National Park is the welcome return of Hayden from self-imposed three-year exile of silence. His previous Outpost/Geffen albums, Everything I Long For and The Closer I Get earned him a "vital" tag from the tastemakers at Spin, and his contribution of the title track to Steve Buscemi's Trees Lounge cemented his cult following. Hayden has since evolved into a near-mythical legend, subject to Bigfoot-like sightings and rumors of activity. His fans refuse to accept his absence as a permanent situation, and optimistically speculate about new releases just around the corner. They are finally correct.
Hayden relies on his instincts and does what feel s most natural; honesty is the guiding principle of his guileless, gimmick-free songwriting. Skyscraper National Park, which the Toronto Sun calls "his best work yet," is raw and bleak, yet warm and bright. From a high falsetto to a low growl, from a distant piano and thin guitar to lush strings and horns, Hayden traverses the span of wide-open spaces to solitary introspection. Heartbreak and comfort rub elbows in the light and in the shadows. Hayden's subtle touch and easy sense of humor dispel misconceptions that his is a troubled and moody soul.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, January 14, 2004

By	mike (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Its truly the only word to describe the songwriting involved with this recording. I fell in love immediately upon hearing this album. The country theme contained within the overall mood of the music is light, but detectable. In a way its a very quiet and soothing break from most of the subtle baggage that comes attatched to most singer/songwriter efforts. In a way, you can describe this as a very "no frills" record. His songwriting is sincere, honest, and at times very graphic, yet tasteful (for the best example of this, listen to track 8 "Bass Song" and you'll know my point exactly). As a whole, this album is not in any means a savior to a genre of mediocre country tinged musicians and their eager fans (hey maybe it is, but who am I to get one's hopes up too much), but its a great album for when you're out driving or sitting around on a rainy day. This is definitely ear candy at its finest, but with excellent messages to back it all up. Get into this, please. Then, get the live album. You will be in for a treat.
For fans of: Clem Snide, Wilco, Elliott Smith.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Not a Fan & I Love It!, April 24, 2003

By A Customer

Hayden is a remarkable musician. I stumbled across the gorgeous "Dynamite Walls" on my new Dell computer. It has to be one of the most enveloping songs I've heard and I Loved it! Then I went and got the CD and was again stunned by the simplicity and beauty of the music. It was nice to hear the country tinges, as I am a country fan, among every other genre. I am surprised and happy that I found Hayden's talent and I can't wait to discover more!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real music for Real People, October 7, 2002

By	Graham Gibson (BC Canada) - See all my reviews

SNP will give hope to anyone who thinks music is sliding forever into boy bands and the 'blonde of the week' singers. Hayden contines to write intensly personal songs, which allows the listener to relate both lyrics and tempo to their own lives.

This is quite possibly Haydens finest album, he hangs on to his old sound with tracks like Streetcar and Long Way Down, but also brings a new side out to his music with higher, lighter songs like Carried Away and All in One Move.

Anyone who is a fan of real, honest music will become a fan of Hayden, and this is the perfect album to start with.