By Stacie Cruze
Staff Writer
Country sensation Hunter Hayes takes his music in a new direction with his sophomore album, “Storyline.”
“Storyline” is a very upbeat, and fun album, which is fitting for 22-year old Hayes. His lyrics feature mature themes, although the tempo and instrumentals of his songs can be repetitive.
Outside of his recent fame, Hayes has been creating music since he was five years old. In 2000, at the age of nine, he recorded his very first album “Through My Eyes” for a regional record. Hayes has played the accordion, sung, produced, and written music since his youth.
In the summer of 2011, at 19-years-old, Hayes’ first major-label single “Storm Warning” made the country Top 40. Later that year, his debut album “Hunter Hayes” made the charts, making him one of the hottest new stars in country music.
As Hayes’ sophomore album, the songs from “Storyline” consist of deeper lyrics and themes. While the album is lively, it does have a certain level of maturity that is a step up from his debut album. An example would be the song “Invisible,” which talks about Hayes’ past self-esteem issues.
In contrast to that maturity, this new album also has some of those silly tracks that made his debut album so likable. The opening track, “Wild Card,” features a fast, lively tempo that is energetic and fun.
Between the deep songs, and the enthusiastic songs, “Storyline” also features the quirky romantic tracks, such as “Secret Love.” These songs have quick tempos and silly lyrics that express the charm of secret love, or the passion of getting a loved one’s name tattooed.
Whether or not the tracks are serious or spirited, the instrumentals of “Storyline” do not vary much. The tempo of the songs may change in pace to accommodate the tracks, although the sound itself is very repetitive. Hayes plays the same instruments for nearly evey song, which does not give much change.
Hayes’ sophomore album hits a certain level of sophistication that his debut album lacks, leading his music in a new direction. As a multi-talented, Grammy-nominated country singer, Hayes has made a name for himself, and “Storyline” paves a new path for him with its deeper tracks, and mature themes.
“Storyline” was released May 6, and sells on iTunes for $10.99, and on Amazon for $9.99.
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