11. August 2025
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Media Review

Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Hayes Carll - We're Only Human

Hayes Carll - We're Only Human
4.1

Rating

 4.1/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very nice storytelling
  • Good, versatile songs

Ten albums by Hayes Carll – the US-American artist is having a release anniversary with We’re Only Human. On 8th August 2025, the album will be published. I already had a listen and wrote my review.

 

Hayes Carll – About The Artist

Hayes Carll is a 9th January 1976-born artist from Houston in Texas. He is a country musician, who also has influences of folk in his music. Furthermore, his ironic lyrics are one of the signature elements of his music. In the early 2000’s, he started to build his musical career. His debut album Flowers & Liquor has been released in June 2022. In 2011, his fourth album KMAG YOYO peaked twelfth in the US Country Album charts. The following record, Lovers and Leavers (2016) even made it in the US Top 5 in the folk genre. Carll’s most recent album is Hayes & The Heathens, released in 2024.

 

Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human – Track by Track

The ten track album lasts 42 minutes.

1. We’re Only Human

The title track of the album is also its opener. We’re Only Human is a calm, rather traditional country music tune with some folk influences. The warm voice feels gentle, but still relatable. A really good first flavor of this new Hayes Carll record.

2. Stay Here Awhile

Out of the first four songs, Stay Here Awhile is the only so-far unreleased track. The melody feels a bit more rhythmic than in the title track. The really catching element is the easy, straight, but also funny way how Carll is telling his stories.

3. Progress of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)

A song subtitled Bitcoin & Cattle – that has to one from the country music sphere. The song has a very traditional style, starting more or less with the fiddle only. The does does get a wider and more diverse instrumentation later during the four minute listen, though. Again, not only the musical setup, also the lyrics make you smile – wouldn’t you agree that We all make big money on bitcoin and cattle and it’s all for the progress of man?

It’s all for the better, the wind and the weather
The ivory tusks and the alpaca sweaters
It’s all for the truth, and the big Baby Ruth
And are you sure we’re really all in this together

4. High

High is the last song of the album, which has already been presented as a single before. The song is driven by the piano and has some flute elements. It feels like a ballad, reflecting contentedness and inner peace. Or, as Carll is saying, he is exactly at the height that I like to fly, and I am just the right amount of high. A very special listen on the album, which finally works out very well.

5. One Day

All the following six songs are previously unreleased. This song opens with So many years my soul was scared, afraid of what might be found in there. It overall is full of desire, longing for a happy place. Nonetheless, when Carll is presenting One Day, it feels easier than the story as such may suggest.

But one day I’m gonna get there
Where the livin’ is easy
And my spirit believes me
When I sing my song
And one day I’m gonna wake up
With the battle behind me
Let the stars remind me
That I’m right where I belong

6. What I Will Be

What I Will Be feels surprisingly modern and present, compared to the finer writes on this album. One reason for that is reflected in the credits. Apart from Carll himself, John and TJ Osborne are named as collaborators for this write. This Brother Osborne flavor feels like a very nice variety to We’re Only Human.

And I’ll take in a breath as the sun hits the ocean
Home is a place where they just let you be
Go on and tell this old world that I’m tired of pretending
From here until the end I’m gonna be what I will be

7. Good People (Thank Me)

The piano-driven, zesty Good People (Thank Me) is another very easy to listen song. This time, the virtuous melody lines spread some typical saloon vibes. The individual lines of the song are rather short, which creates a rather fast and energetic atmosphere. I really like that style.

8. I Got Away With It

After this jaunty listen, I Got Away With It slows down the pace again. The relationship Hayes Carll is illustrating in this song is not the luckiest happening. But telling the story in his style leads to a lovely narration. These 5:32 minutes do not feel lengthy at all.

Goddamn I’m glad that’s all over
The fightin’ that we used to do
We’d cast the first stone before breakfast
And barely be standing by noon

9. Making Amends

The penultimate track already starts with heavy stuff in the first lines. Carll states I’m making amends for all my poor choices, my bad behavior, and all my misdeeds. Later, he adds God I know that it takes more than just sayin’ I’m sorry. The slow, traditional country style with present pedal steel elements adds to that melancholic vibe.

10. May I Never

The closing song May I Never takes the remaining five minutes of the album. The full statement given in the song is May I never forsake you again. Not only the female backing singers spread a gospel-alike spirit during this listen.

 

Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Hayes Carll – We’re Only Human – My View

It is really fun listening to We’re Only Human. Hayes Carll is a lovely narrator with his very own style. You have to say, though, that the songs are good, but not in the top range, so that my rating is in line with that.

Favorite Song: I Got Away With It

 

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