After an exclusive vinyl release in late December 2018, Andrew Hyatt's latest EP, Abel is now available via streaming services everywhere.
Abel, the 5 song EP acts as a companion piece to the previously released EP Cain. It's different in style and mood. But it's similar in that we get the same underlying veracity we've become used to from Andrew Hyatt. In his own words, "These songs are stripped down, flawed and honest.". It's a statement that plainly puts his vulnerability on display, and offers his art to the world to be heard.
That's brave. It's true that there's a bravery in the release of every song by every artist. They put themselves out there to be judged for better or for worse every single time. But in admitting that these songs are flawed, while also advertising their honesty, there is no hiding or pretending that these are polished fairy tales. These are his. When writing about Cain, we said, "His heart's on his sleeve. He's laid himself bare. And he's offering it all up to music fans to take in.". We meant it then, and we still do. And on Abel, Andrew has continued that same exercise as he's opened himself up and poured it all out into his music.
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Related: Andrew Hyatt - Cain EP Review
In November, we saw Andrew Hyatt open for Dean Brody on the Dirt Road Stories Tour, and he started his short acoustic set with Small Town. It was a perfect introduction at the time to what we now hear on this new EP. And as the last track on Abel, it's a strong ending. In the look back at his roots, you can hear the connection that remains "there's blue runnin' in its veins, hell there's blue runnin' in my veins". In the world of country music, we hear a lot of songs about small towns and growing up. Small Town and it's more retrospective angle gives us a slightly different view. And it works.
Before you get to the end though, you're going to get bombarded with the opportunity for all of the feels. Home drips with a promise and depth that offers connection to people in whatever way it hits them. "I'll pick you up, I won't let you go. I will be your shelter from the cold. I will be home.".
Insanity is another home run in the middle of the record. From the opening lines, it starts painting a picture. And through its visually triggering lyrics like, "Might as well sit out in the rain, watch it dancin' off the hood. Let the dash light shine on a photograph til it's all good." it is the kind of story song that you can...
A) start imagining a music video for
B) let take you back into your own memories where you felt the same thing, even if the scene is different
C) both
Note: Don't miss the fact that Jessica Mitchell is singing harmonies on this record. You can go ahead and add that to the list of reasons we'd love to see her and Hyatt on tour together.
The downer in listening to Abel is the realisation that we won't likely get to hear these songs live very often. Andrew Hyatt's show is flooded with a rock and roll energy that makes him must see. Along with his band, the Nickel City kid treats country music crowds to a good time, good vibes, and the kind of soundtrack you'd play at a party. And that's all awesome. But these aren't those songs.
If we're lucky, we'll see Andrew Hyatt in some small, intimate settings where he can strip things down, get a little vulnerable, and add these five songs to his setlist. That's where they'll shine, and where we'll hope to be.
Andrew Hyatt, Abel Tracklist
