Quick Hitters:: Jason Haywood

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I’ve been plowing through releases trying to ready my Polaris long list nominations (spoiler - Elliott Brood and Timbre Timber will be on it), and honestly it’s a bit overwhelming. Even with all the great bands everyone gets to hear on CBC3 or college radio, the amount of quality music coming out of Canada is staggering. Every time I think I have my 5 records selected, a song on my IPOD triggers a new thought and a quick reorder. That being said, yesterday I think I hit critical mass with "new shit" and a fresh listen to an old record was just what the doctor ordered.

The Divorcees have made a big splash on the East Coast country scene, arguably fighting neck and neck with Ryan Cook for top spot in the public eye, but former Divorcee Jason Haywood is a little known artist that pens some terrific Canadiana country. I talk about it all the time, but the temptation to put a little steel in your songs is en vogue these days and as a result, the term alt-country leans heavily on the first three letters of the word. For people that grew up with Buck, Merle, or Willie, it must be frustrating to see all the people ignoring the tradition, classic subject matter that makes country music so timeless.

More importantly – especially if you consider that Jason finds a home on Haysale Records, a label run by former Guthrie Serge Samson (a band that honestly was too far ahead of the curve and would be one of the biggest bands in Canada if they were playing now) – the rise in popularity and number of people soaking up Townes or covering The Band must leave a bad taste in some purists’ mouths. When you’ve been playing that music for years and listening for even longer, the cash and dash feel of a lot of artists looking for the hottest sound must sting. Haywood approaches the “alt-country” style from a firm country background, setting up a solid foundation of familiar sounds and subjects. Instead of thinking about how to splice tone setting steel and down on your luck, head on the bar emotions into his tracks, those elements come naturally to his 2005 solo debut, Nothing Stays the Same.

His challenge was to fuse the sounds of those old-time heroes with more popular artists like The Byrds or even Gram Parsons and he handles the mix with aplomb. Honestly, the best compliment I could give him is that the record could have been made 20 years ago or 20 minutes ago. Whether it’s the backing female vocals and straight ahead melody of Waiting for Me, the road weary feel and loneliness A Million Miles Away or the banjo/steel heavy I'll Make it Through, you get the feeling Haywood is an artist that would get the nod from people aged sixteen to sixty. I could throw the record on for my dad or a North End hipster and not receive a complaint from either party.

The best part about taking a look back and digesting Jason’s full record is that now I’m even more excited for his upcoming release (spring '09 on Haysale). He’s giving away the first demo, so take a listen.

Labels: Canada, Music, Nova Scotia