Customer Ratings & Reviews

Now, if the Grammy’s gave out awards for the most underrated and overlooked artists, Darren would win, hands down. Without a doubt, Mr. Hayes is one of the best lyricist and singers I’ve heard in a while. He has the ability to pull you in with his music. And his music is always masterful. And This Delicate Thing We’ve Made is no exception. And it’s certainly Darren’s most ambitious project yet. Twenty-five tracks written during the course of three years released on his own independent label. And his first release Stateside since Spin in 2002, after Sony Columbia refused to release the amazing 2004 The Tension and the Spark, to the dismay of his American fans. This Delicate Thing seems to pick up where we left off with Tension. We continue the emotional personal journey that was so prominently featured in Darren’s 2004 release. And after nearly two hours of an emotional rollercoaster, we arrive to a happy place, ending with “The Tuning of Violins,” a song that seems to be about Darren’s everyday life in London with his partner. There are some dark moments in this epic voyage. “Neverland” is a dark, somewhat disturbing, albeit catchy, song about the contemplation of patricide. “A Conversation with God” is a contemplation of suicide. However, this album has its happy moments as well. “On the Verge of Something Wonderful,” the first single; “Who Would Have Thought,” the first song previewed to fans on Hayes’ website; “Step into the Light” are just a few. “Words,” a personal favorite of mine, is one of the best piano ballads Darren has ever done, with such emotionally charged vocals it can bring a tear to your eye. Same can be said about “I Just Want You to Love Me.” It would be impossible to fully bring justice to the beauty of this album. If you’re looking for something different from the everyday blah on the radios, or seeking a journey of epic proportions, then this CD is the one for you.

This album is Darren's first indie album and it's his best yet. The singles Who Would Have Thought and On The Verge of Something Wonderful truly feel wonderful. Darren shows he's not afraid to speak his mind with songs like Bombs Up In My Face and Great Big Disconnect. As much as I love his earlier albums (including the 20 million+ selling Savage Garden albums) I would easily choose this one as his best.

Great music, every bit as good as Savage Garden.