Album Review – Hayden Baker’s “Alive & Well”

Traditional Country (#510) on the Country DDS.

It’s time you graduate from “never heard of him” or “sounds familiar” to “he’s my new favorite traditionalist” when it comes to fielding queries about Hayden Baker. His new album Alive & Well is as good of an entry point as any, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s super easy to warm up to from the very first twangy note.

Baker’s one of these multi-tool traditional country up-and-comers that you can’t get enough of once you’re initiated. He’s an incredible guitar player. Brad Paisley’s on record saying Hayden’s his “new favorite guitarist,” which is no faint praise. Brad might be a little bias though. Just like Paisley, Hayden Baker plays a custom G-Bender Telecaster, which allows Baker to bring that extra element of twang to tracks.

Hayden Baker won “Musician of the Year” for his guitar skills at the Texas Country Music Industry Awards back in his home state earlier this year. With his new album Alive & Well though, he’s out to prove that he can’t just pick ’em. He can write and sing ’em too. Those who’ve been following Hayden for a while don’t need convincing of this. His song “Is It Cold In Oklahoma” made waves on the SCM Top 25 Playlist previously, as did the opening single to this new album “Home Into a House.”

Along with a heavy dose of twang, Hayden Baker songs come with super heavy hooks that snag your lower lip and won’t let go. Co-writing all the songs on the new album, it really is a quality specimen of traditional country songwriting nearly cover to cover. And by not expending all of his focus on guitar playing, the singing on Alive & Well stands out as well.

You’re caught a bit off guard though when Hayden slips in a few more contemporary-styled moments on this album. The second song “What Part Of No” will become one of your next favorite songs right out of the box. But when he transitions into a little programmed portion in one of the final chorus runs, you think to yourself, “Did I just switch over to country radio?”

The electronic drums that begin and bisect “I Can’t Fix Everything” will also be off-putting to many of the traditional country fans this record might otherwise appeal to, while the album might be way too traditional to find favor with contemporary audiences.

But if anyone earns a hall pass to put a few radio-friendly elements in a song or two, or the latitude to try and broaden the appeal of traditional country, it’s Hayden Baker. Once you roll up on “I Had a Headache Once,” all other trespasses are forgiven. And for those looking to hear what happens when Hayden’s allowed to to go wild on the Telecaster, make sure to listen all the way to the end of the final song “Country Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.”

The last song says it all. With so many young folks figuring out how to make a living off of traditional country music, and figuring out way to help broaden the audience and keep it cool, the country resurgence will continue on thanks to artists like Hayden Baker, and albums like Alive & Well.

8.1/10

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Stream/Purchase Alive & Well