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 - Good, solid country, but nothing new or fresh hereHays Carl is a story teller for sure, and he has a fine eye for catching off-kilter details and nuances that make his characters seem as real as a whiff of warm beer on a morning with a bad hangover. But after half-a-dozen spins, I'm having trouble connecting with the music on "Trouble in Mind." Drunken Poet's Dream seems strangely flat despite its being collaboration with Ray Wylie Hubbard. She Left Me for Jesus wears thin after a few listens. As for everything in between, it's good, solid country with a bit of a modern flair, all well-played, but not really anything new or fresh for its genre. And about the sound quality of this recording . . . yep, it's not up to the standards on any of the half dozen or so recordings I have from this label. Rating:  - Houston, we have a poet...The title I stole from another review I read of this CD. I've had this disc in heavy rotation for about 2 weeks now. Excellent stuff. More country than anything on country radio and yet still rockin' as well. If weren't for that geezer show "Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood" I would have missed out on this. Rating: - Laid Back Fun It's nice to enjoy an album that is just plain fun with great guitar and fantastic band playing perfectly with a singer with fascinating lyrics that sometimes make me laugh out loud. If you enjoy a touch of country mixed with a touch of rock and you have a free spirit, this one is truly for you. I particularly love "She Left Me for Jesus", the humor that glides through the song of a poor fellow whose girlfriend tells him she has become saved by Jesus with him confused is pure knock out funny. And a "Girl Downtown" about a simple boy meeting simply girl with plunking guitar is another fun one that is just entertaining fun that sounds great particular with backing vocals that sound like a mature Dolly Parton. There are beautiful songs as well such as "It's a Shame" about two potential lovers that somehow just missed. I played this album several times and I have never tired of Carll's voice , he matches the empathy of whatever song he sings, joy or sorrow, he sings just the way the song writer wants it sung. My only regret is that Carll is not touring in VA! Rating:  - keep goinlove hayes, just wish he'd play my way. i guess i don't have the ear like some of the other reviewers cause i didn't have sound issues. Rating: - An introduction to someone I already knewJust got a copy of Hayes Carll's "Trouble in Mind". Let me state at the outset that I really wanted to find something to dislike about this album/artist. Really. I put on my cynical big boy pants and black beret and tried to poke him with the derivative mashup label (which would rightfully stick), but it seemed like he just donned it like a Wall Drug trademark and waved it at me. And it worked. Carll is the unholy spawn of a "Country Bob" Dylan, pre-prison Steve Earll, an apolitical John Prine with a couple of fingers of Hank Williams. Roll `em all up, give `em a tax stimulus check and send them out into the south east Texas night to find a bar with generic neon beer signs and you have Hayes Carll. Funny as hell without working too hard for it, interesting like a hand waving bar conversation between William S, Burroughs and Dolly Parton and just plain enjoyable. If you like the badboy/alt.country/Americana stuff this would be a great addition to your collection. It should come with a bottle of whiskey (of uncertain pedigree)....you know, the kind you get drunk on rather than sip.
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