First of all, let me freely admit that I am a long standing huge fan of Hayes Carll. I was out pushing him on everyone just after his initial Flowers & Liquor way back in June 2002. Thinking about that being so long ago astounds me that it has taken so long for everyone else to catch up. Voted Americana Music’s Best New Emerging Artist in 2010 was a true head scratcher. Don’t get me wrong, he deserves the praise, but the guy has stood atop the charts for the past 2-3 years!!!  So, with that said, I decided to take a novel approach at reviewing his new release, KMAG YOYO, which hit the streets February 15^th. I wanted to take a step back, and see what others may have written about his release, since I already knew what my thoughts would be.  So, I selected the first four reviews which came up under Google search, printed them out, and analyzed each one. The first was written by Blake Boldt for the9513.com. Blake uses the terms “smart-aleck nature” along with “tender sarcasm” to illustrate a picture of Hayes’ writing prowess. While these terms are certainly earned, I feel they only scratch the surface of what Hayes accomplishes. He learned his trade from the best of Texas, and honed his own methods into an uncanny ability to relate with the listener. His ability to draw the listener into his music is what truly sets him apart. Beginning with his original release in 2002, and certainly the new songs on KMAG, Hayes can paint a familiar picture or feeling for the listener, taking them on a musical journey along with him.  Next, Dustin Ogdin contributes a review posted at No Depression. Dustin enjoys using words many fans, including myself, have trouble defining. His statement “While Carll may not be the Godfather of country soul, his fourth album certainly solidifies that he’s a made man in the honky-tonk cabal.” Not sure when I last seen the word cabal used. He also compares Carll to Charles Bukowski by saying “Carll is a sort of Charles Bukowski in the age of anti-depressants”. Bukowski is a poet, which certainly describes Carll as well, although as Hayes freely admits in Hard Out Here on the new release, he is not a poet but just a drunk with a pen. Ogdin writes a positive review boasting of Carll’s consistent ability to create good music, but many of Hayes’ fans may have skimmed over the review after hitting the dictionary wall.  Moving on, the next review was posted to thehurstreview by Josh Hurst. This is a another positive review, using the terms sensational and stellar to support his claim. Josh actually does a very good job, taking us through each song and reflecting on the stories behind them.  Finally, we have the review posted by Tim Basham for Paste Magazine. Tim opens by making a strong declaration, stating this is Hayes’ best album yet. While I admit it is certainly outstanding record, saying it is his “best” is like saying that Halle Barry is better looking than Kate Beckinsale. They are each amazing, why pick between the two? Where Basham loses me, however, is when he states “With alt-country lyrics that are more Tom Waits than Guy Clark, Hayes Carll continues to impress, giving us more to think about than just honky tonks and heartaches”. Huh? Again, why should we attempt to make a comparison at all? To me, it has always been obvious Hayes has learned from many outstanding artists before him, and still continues to hone his own talents today. He is a melding of many, which is what sets him apart from many others. Hayes has created his own unique style.  So, what have I learned by looking through these other reviews? First of all, everyone is impressed with KMAG YOYO, one even going so far as to state it is his best to date. Bold statement indeed. It seems that much like the general public, some are only just beginning to scratch the surface on his talents. With so much music out there today, one would think a unique talent such as Hayes would stand out. As one reviewer did mention, however, Hayes is not blessed with a pitch perfect vocal prowess, nor can he be pigeon-holed into a particular genre.  He overcomes the vocals with a passion which is missing from 90% of other music today. Passion is what drives music, not a pitch perfect mic or machine. The genre issue is nonsense. If we only allow the music to speak for itself, someone may actually listen and enjoy it.  KMAG YOYO stands on its own as a great record. There truly are no misses on this one, with each compelling song well worth listening to again and again. I think that Hayes may secretly snicker at some of the comparisons thrown his way. I am sure a few are so far off base, he can only shake his head. What I have never understood is the necessity to compare, as if that is the only way we can judge if it is good music or not. Well, every once in a while, an artist steps up and stands alone with his own artistic ability. That is Hayes Carll.  So, go buy KMAG YOYO, open your mind and ears and allow the music to flow. With guest artists such as Curb Lund, Todd Snider, and a duet with Cary Ann Hearst, this one is so entertaining, you may find yourself getting excited. KMAG YOYO = Kiss My Ass Guys, You’re On Your Own. TITLE CUT: 05 KMAG YOYO