Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human

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Hayes Carll feels like a man on a mission on his latest record, We’re Only Human. This country singer-songwriter shimmers and sways all over this ten-track LP that is brimming with great lyrical undertones, vivid imagery and storytelling, paired with ultra-solid musicianship. We’re Only Human is Hayes Carll’s ninth studio album to date, and he wastes little time getting to what’s on his mind lately on this latest effort that is worthy of your time. With key singles like “High”, the upbeat romp of “Progress of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)” and the opening title track that explains, “We’re only human / That is all / Just walking the rope between fear and hope / And knowing we’re gonna fall / ‘Cause we’re only human,” Hayes Carll weaves a tangled web of intricate melodies on this record that fits somewhere in the realm of Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell and Bob Dylan.

”Stay Here Awhile” finds Hayes Carll growing complacent and happy with the life he has led so far, and he shares, “I’m not in a hurry / No reason to worry / Nothing I gotta know / I spent so long climbing the hill / But I only started moving when I got still / The pace these days suits my style / So I think I’ll stay here awhile.” This artist surely has seen it all, but he still has a key message of hope found throughout We’re Only Human. Carll sounds a bit pissed off on the key track of “Progress of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)” as he sings, “The man on the TV keeps makin’ strange faces / There’s folks flyin’ rockets to far away places / The world’s gettin’ turned on by assholes and racists / And it’s all for the progress of man.” It’s hard to not sympathize and relate to Hayes Carll here as he outlines not only his grievances, but key observations of the world around us.

Other songs like the vivid storytelling of “High”, where Carll’s vocal cadence reminds me of the early-Bob Dylan classic “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35”, with equally thrilling results. While the tempos may be different between these comparative songs, the impact is largely the same in their song quality. “One Day” finds Hayes Carll at a key point of reflection in his life as he shares in the second verse that, “When the dream was young and bolder / Wasn’t much that I couldn’t shoulder / But the world can leave you cold and undone / The sun is setting in the western sky / There’s still so much life to try / I’m not ready to say goodbye to this one,” reminding us of the difficulties of letting go of the past.

”What I Will Be” brings the pacing back up significantly to start the back half of the record, as Hayes Carll admits, “I am what I am / An insecure mountain,” and it features a classic Country twang to its delivery. “Good People (Thank Me)” bounces along the piano like hearing the people’s chatter over a classic saloon singer, while Carll commands the sing-a-long chorus. “I Got Away With It” features some continued great storytelling, while the penultimate song of “Making Amends” finds this songwriter coming to terms with his demons of the past with grace and poise.

”May I Never” features a litany of guest spots with Gordy Quist, Shovels & Rope, Darrell Scott, Nicole Atkins, Ed Jurdi & Ray Wylie Hubbard, joining the fray as the singers ride off into the sunset with the refrain of, “The only choice no one else can make / Is to decide which road my heart will take / May I never forsake you again.” It’s lyrics that we can all take to heart, learn from, and use as a mantra in our own lives to aspire to be better people. I’m sure Hayes Carll would be more than happy to see that his music can still make this kind of impact in our world.

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