Hayden

More influenced by Neil Young than Palace, Indie Singer-Songwriter Hayden writes gloomy, moody and beautifully paced cathartic songs performed at a snail's pace. His acoustic guitar strums are as hypnotizing as his wistful, watery harmonies and the reverberating tremolo of his electric six-string. Hayden's realm of space and time seems much different from that of his contemporaries; he tends to incorporate silence, ambient sounds and pauses. Using silent bridges and 45 minutes of drizzly rainfall, Hayden's innovative songwriting appeals to listeners willing to take a chance. Some may compare him to Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis or Palace's Will Oldham, but such comparisons are merely a cerebral shortcut. First of all, he can sing. And second of all, he can sing well.