One of the most difficult things for a singer-songwriter to accomplish is to capture the energy, excitement, and presence conveyed at a live performance in a limited CD track list. While albums offer clean, crisp recordings, mixed and mastered to the artist’s content, chock full of special instruments, overdubs, and sounds that can only be soaked up in a studio, the dynamic vibe a performer exudes during his/her live set is unmatchable.
The beauty of singer-songwriter Caleb Hawley’s sophomore album, Steps, is the way it blends his classic, controlled, and powerful music with the same energy as his live performance and the professionalism of a perfectly mastered record. From the opening track “Small Steps,” which brilliantly captures the struggling artist’s desire to make it to the top to the final piece “Fade,” a hauntingly beautiful song that mesmerizes it’s listeners with it’s trance-like quality, Steps plays strong from start to finish, with no need to push the “skip” button on your iPod.
Hawley has made huge strides artistically since his debut album, ironically titled Greatest Hits, a name that gives a small window into Caleb’s quirky, dry sense of humor and tendency to not take things too seriously. In Steps we see a variety of level’s in Caleb’s personality, such as the sensitive, loving husband doting on his wife in “Samantha’s Song,” and his humorous, playful side in “Who’s Your Doggy?” Some highlights of the record include “Real Vacation,” a track laced with light ukulele, catchy lyrics, and a melody that begs to be placed on a Sandals commercial, and “My Own Two Feet,” Hawley’s hit song that won him a top spot in the prestigious New York Songwriter’s Circle contest last year.
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Glenn Barratt of Morningstar Studios and featuring a cast of musicians and instruments fit to challenge the finest band in NYC, Steps is a definite album to add to your collection of outstanding indie artists. Caleb’s vocal mastery and musical genius can be witnessed this coming Thursday, October 29 at his Bitter End Record Release, 8:30pm. Chock full of special guests, light laughter, and amazing talent, this is an evening not to be missed.
Steps is now available for purchase and download… Please visit www.calebhawley.com or www.myspace.com/calebhawley for details and tour dates.