Like John Prine and Jerry Jeff Walker before him, Hayes Carll has made a career out of blending mellow, infectious acoustic folk with sharp, often humorous portraits of everyday people. But on We’re Only Human, his 10th studio album, one of the first things you’ll notice is that Carll has turned that same wit inward, making himself the subject of his own storytelling.
“The record was inspired by a desire to start listening to my inner voice rather than running from it. The songs are my way of solidifying the lessons I’ve learned, not because I have all the answers, but because I need the reminder that we’re all only human.” And he doesn’t go easy on himself, aiming his humorous takes on his own insecurities and failings, but also learning when to be appreciative when he can.
That’s not to say this whole exercise is a transcript of his own BetterHelp therapy sessions. “Progress of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)” is a pointed (though sadly accurate and brilliantly funny) judgment on our current priorities as a world, while the beautiful opening title track is a sweet pep talk for those of us who feel like we’re failing at life.
On “Good People (Thank Me),” he sings about strangers fighting, then coming together and falling in love, before moving into a confession about his own grudge with a neighbor, before realizing he may have been in the wrong. The song charms with a mix of bouncy, Randy Newman-style piano, vibrant brass backing, and wry, relatable storytelling. “High” is a delicate piano ballad about grasping onto that rare moment of inner peace (whether it’s weed-induced or not is up to you).
The album closes on “May I Never,” where Carll is joined by a slew of friends, including Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shovels & Rope, Darrell Scott, Nicole Atkins, and Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi from Band of Heathens – each taking their turn at singing a line from the song. This beautiful track is a reverent mantra about appreciating what you have, delivered with the rising chorus of a church choir. It brings the album’s journey of self-examination and introspection to a powerful close.
