I was going to write this article as a single review for Charlie Haley And The Band’s latest single Independence Day but then I got to listening to the great album that song can be found on, and well, now you are going to get my thoughts on their latest album titled Today, because that’s just the sort-of all in day I am having.
Wasting no time making a positive introduction, Charlie Haley and The Band dive into their emotional side with Missing You. This song feels very much like it draws inspiration from rock acts in decades past, but also, it captures what is very much new and current; and that is not the easiest trick for any song writer to pull off. It feels like a song you have heard on that movie you have watched over twenty times, it really does sound like it belongs on a movie soundtrack.
Moving on from Missing You, we find ourselves hopped up on the fun intensity of the politically charged and anthem-like lead single Independence Day. Where Independence Day shines is in its ability to create a playful juxtaposition between hard rock and playful pop. It is a smooth and effective emotional calling to a generation of listeners looking for a positive wake up call. There is a great music video to accompany this track and you should check it out.
The album’s infectious title track hits me like an epic Jeff Buckley song. It has the poetic grace, the clean blues-infused rock guitars, and airy soft vocals that dominate what Jeff once did on his own songs. Today is a stunning song with a beautiful emotion to it, and near the end there is a moment where everything stops to let the listener fully appreciate the songs important message ‘It’s time for a change.’ Yes, it is.
The fourth song on the album titled Follow Me has a different feel from the others. It feels very experimental, as if it could easily have become something completely different during the editing process. It is a happy sounding walk through Charlie Haley’s poetic mind. With a 90’s era rock-infused tone, Follow Me is an easy song to enjoy.
Alright, so we now come to Amen and I love Amen. This beautifully written smoky blues-style song just captures something deeply special. It sounds devious, like something you might expect from The Cult, but is also channels a very Jeff Buckley-esque feel during the chorus. Amen is one of the star players on the entire album for me. Towards the end of the song it hints at moments that sound like something you might expect from Dallas Green of City And Colour, and it’s magnificent!
Not one to be overshadowed by an emotional ballad, Charlie Haley’s next track Higher just lifts us off the ground without any effort. This song, with its heavy almost punk-ish vibe, really shows what Charlie Haley can do when he takes the stops off containing that killer voice of his. The chorus is like the sonic version of a Red-Bull mainlined. This song gets better with every playthrough and the louder you turn it up.
Don’t Change is a lover’s song, and it is a great lover’s song at that. The lyrics are beautiful, like an open lover letter to the one you wish you could freeze in time. The running guitars, fast stepping snare hits, and passionate vocals make for a natural wedding song. So, if you are looking to create a playlist about love and passion, then make sure to add this sincere song to your playlist.
Nearing the end of the album now and there have been no duds. Not one song has felt out of place or unfinished. Every track offers up a different perspective from the Charlie Haley camp, and every song feels a bit more daring in it’s sound; and that theme stays true with the motivational-minded track titled You Know It’s True. As with the rest of the album, this song is mixed and mastered in the most radio-friendly way, which really means that every song has a high budget feel to it, and that, simply put, comes off as undeniably professional and seasoned.
This late in the album and one of the best singles finally arrives. Bad Things Happen To Good People is an absolutely beautiful song with an important the message. Yes, the title gives away the story, but that is what I like about this emotional song; it wears it’s heart on its sleeve for all to see. Bad Things Happen To Good People sounds like a real diary entry from Charlie Haley. It is a slower approach to songwriting that offers up an introspective opening for the band to reach through to the listeners heart, with a powerful sentiment that we can agree with. The track never goes beyond what it needs to be, and that is both smart and effective songwriting.
The final song on this gem of an album is called On The Other Side and it touches deeply on the faithful man that Charlie Haley is. The songs clean and slowly strummed guitars are met with a calm drumbeat that doesn’t rush the vocals at all. It is a sad, reflective, but hopeful song. It is the cherry on a very awesome musical cake, if you will.
Clearly, I enjoyed this album, and why wouldn’t I? It has all the hallmarks of an authentic music act that is sincerely trying to reach through to the world outside their studio walls. The vocals are beautiful, the musicianship, the mixing and mastering are on point, the songwriting is thoughtful and has real depth, and every song approaches another angle of Charlie Haley’s very creative mind.
It would be a real shame if you didn’t take a listen to this album, so make sure that you do.
