Album Review: Hedley — s/t
Not certifiably awful in any way, the debut album by Canadian quartet Hedley is simply another serving of the tired, shopworn formula that the record industry serves up. Like a musical version of the stereotypical elementary school lunch lady, the folks at Capitol (theoretically the same people that gave us Frank Sinatra and the Beatles) dish out this musical mystery meat and expect us to consume it. Time for a hunger strike!
Again, this eponymous disc is not truly awful. It’s just — and yes, I know that I use this term a lot, but advisedly so — more of the same. As I forced myself to endure the forty-plus minutes, the inescapable question was, “ok, what other group does this band sound exactly like?” I couldn’t quite pin it down, but I know it’s someone equally faceless [Note to self: find the nearest white fourteen-year old and ask him; he’ll know]. Good Charlotte? Bowling For Soup? Ultimately, the question barely deserves the effort to answer.
Too, points must be deducted for the mannered vocals (“me” is invariably enunciated as “mayyy;” where haven’t we heard that before?). Yes, I know that lead singer Jacob Hoggard garnered fame on Canadian Idol. Having never seen that program, I can only assume they haven’t got a judge like Simon Cowell; that snarkmeister/tastemaker would have given some career advice to Hoggard (hint: it would not have involved music).
All that said, it’s ok if you like this sort of thing. But better choices abound.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.