Honorary Birthday Review!


In celebration of my wonderful darling Darren Hayes' birthday today, May 8th, it's time for a special birthday review.



Album Review


Album: Secret Codes and Battleships [Deluxe Edition]
Artist: Darren Hayes
Year: 2011




I was a wee lass in third grade back in '97 when Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards was hosted by Rosie O'Donnell and her new favorite band hailing from the magical world of Oz, Savage Garden, was performing.

It was magic.

But the magic wouldn't really take ahold until five years later in 8th grade.

When friends were knocked off a changed bus route and my discman became the only friend on the bus, and eventually moving in 9th grade, Savage Garden, and Darren Hayes when the band dissolved, was who I turned to for comfort and solace.

Darren Hayes was, and always will be, my bff, idol, and the artist that trumps all others.

And we all know how Chester Bennington is the love of my life. Such is the inseparable bond I have with Darren Hayes. He will always come first.

Darren Hayes always had a beautiful voice, but as it matured it took on the sound of a pure bird, and I defy anyone to tell me otherwise.

With his extensive discography from Savage Garden to his solo career, which by the way the States have fucked us all out of, Darren took Savage Garden's light pop rock sound and expanded it with layers of electronica and insturmentations that leave you listening to songs over and over again.

His music isn't something you toss out. It's something to sink into. And while his debut Spin was pure pop, everything that followed after turned from that obvious pop sound into deeper electronic pop rock. From the very dark The Tension and The Spark. to the very dramatic double concept album *This Delicate Thing We've Made [No one else can make a concept album about Time Machines and pull it off like Darren Hayes] and verious B-sides, and a freebie album a couple birthdays ago under the monkier We Are Smug [] no album is more brilliant than the October release of Secret Codes and Battleships.

From the lilting music box opening notes of Track 1 [Taken By the Sea] to the last song on the deluxe edition's second disc, Track 7 [Blackout the Sun [Live in the Attic] ] which is pure piano and vocal, this album top to bottom is a MASTERPIECE. And that's not something to be taken lightly.

When he said he was going into a poppier direction than the others, I was hoping it wouldn't be the Quintessential Pop Record Spin was. Nothing against the album, but it's not my favorite, and while I can appreciate it's poppy flavor the depth of the electronic sound is missed and you're left with that fluffy after taste [with the exception of the title track. That song ROOLS.] and it wasn't something I was hoping for coming off of the brilliant concept album *This Delicate Thing We've Made which needs to be taken one disc at a time. Swallowing both whole is too overwhelming at first until you're used to it.

Like smoking.

But Secret Codes And Battleships is nothing like the pop he prmoised, and it's not dark or heavy like it's two predecessors.

It's uniquely light and hopeful and triumphant and grandios all at the same time. It's about love, which is pretty much a prerequiesite for pop music, but it's not poppy in sound at all. The music is above and beyond crossgenres to pinpoint it. The lyrics are too good, and his voice is too beautiful.

Frankly my dears it's too good for the radio even if they actually PLAYED Darren Hayes.

The only song fit for the radio, should they come to their senses, would be lead single "Talk Talk Talk." Which is the most dancey. SO dancey in fact that it HUGS your body and moves it for you. And I haven't come across a song that wraps itself around you and makes you dance yet. Other songs you dance WITH. This song MAKES you dance to it.

It will not take no for an asnwer.

And on the other side of the disc, there is a piano version of Talk Talk Talk, referred to as Live in the Attic [The Attic being Darren's recording space] where it takes this exceedingly maleable dance track and rips it away into something raw and emotional and almost heartbreaking. A complete bipolar opposite from its original form.

The only other track done this way is Track 4 [Blackout the Sun] which, still gorgeous, doesn't have that intense 180 Talk Talk Talk has. [I still wish the rest of the songs all had live from the attic versions because I can't imagine what his most powerful tracks would sound like ripped open to just bare piano.]

A special note needs to be made reguarding Track 9 [Roses] which is the most powerful and most beautiful song Darren's ever written. Sure mortality songs are all over, but not like this, not with the sound of his voice being likened to a Siren's call, and the richness of the music coating over his throat. In fact it's ahrd to distinguish what makes the song powerful, the lyrics, or his voice.

Yes. Darren Hayes has a voice not like a bird, but like a SIREN.

So otherworldly beautiful you'd drive your boat into the rocks for.

And it'd be worth it.


Happy Birthday Darren Hayes, my one and only.

Whether Savage Garden, We Are Smug, or all alone, keep singing like the siren you are and making me feel safe and understood like you've been doing since 8th grade.




Moral of the Story: BUY THIS NOW. You'd be a fool not to. Not only is it a great way to start off for those unfamiliar, but it's a good reminder to anyone who disreguarded Darren Hayes after Savage Garden disbanded.

Key Tracks: Taken By The Sea, Talk Talk Talk [including Live In the Attic], Bloodstained Heart, God Walking Into the Room, Roses, Cruel Cruel World, The Siren's Call, Explode, Tiny Little Flashlights

Most Powerful Tracks: God Walking Into the Room, Roses

Discography Rewind [Key Albums]: The Tension and The Spark. , *This Delicate Thing We've Made

Key B-Side Tracks: Zero, Slow Down, The Wrong Way, Where You Want To Be, California {Home}, So Beautiful, Fallen Angel, God Is in The Room [Don't let the name of this track fool you, it's a completely different song]

Key Covers: Can't Help Falling In Love, Not Even Close, Dress You Up

Custom Remix: Insatiable Love [mcsleazy bootleg {Darren Hayes v Marilyn Manson}]

Key Live Track: Lost Without You [Delta Goodrem Tribute @ the 2003 ARIA Awards]

Lest We Forget: Savage Garden, Affirmation, We Are Smug

Favorite Style: My Darren has to have short black hair or long curly blonde hair. This can't be reversed.


Happy Birthday Darren!


Enjoy my idol on his birthday lovelies.