Sophomore albums are usually nail-biters, with powers-that-be and fans alike wait to see if the follow up release will be a blessing or a curse for an artist’s career. Having poured their heart and soul, time and energy into a debut release, some artists find themselves struggling to maintain the momentum – some artists, but not Rodney Hayden. He came out of the shoot in full gallop with his 2000 release “The Real Thing” that helped set the tone of a promising career – and he hasn’t missed a step on his new release “Living The Good Life” on Audium Records.

TCB spoke recently with the young Pleasantville, Texas native and he's cautiously optimistic that his efforts on his new release will be seen as something fresh and yet something that people will also instantly relate to. “I think that it fits in everywhere. It fits in with the California sound as well as the Texas and Nashville.  Working with Audium has been exciting and I am hoping for some really great things to happen.”

But, being the new kid on the block isn't easy. When you're a little different than the norm things can get a little choppy but Rodney is looking forward to the challenge. "It works against you in the beginning because you are new ,so people are a little sceptical. On top of it you're different then everyone else which always makes it very hard." he explains adding that he also finds his age (23) is a hurdle at times, "but in the long run it will work out in my favor I think because history repeats itself and traditional country music always comes back. The traditional artists who are a little different then everything else are always the ones that stick it out for the long haul and really make an impact on music."

Audium appears to have high hopes for Rodney, billing him as the future of traditional country music, but Rodney doesn't let the promotion faze him. He's not interested in replacing any of his heroes but he's more than willing to carry the torch that's been passed to him. "No one will ever be able to fill the shoes of Merle Haggard, George Jones, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash but I'd love to try them on.  Maybe wear them around a little like the kid that tries on his dad's boots." he shares, "As far as country music today I think that it is in a weird spot and there's not too many doors open nationally to traditional artists but it is getting better.  The fans are still there, so the main goal is just to get the music out and available to the traditional fans that are out there."

Being label a traditionalist can come with a lot of baggage and responsibilities, but this effort by Rodney emphasises the elasticity of country music's boundaries. "I don't mind doing things a little different, to me traditional country doesn't have to always be a fiddle and steel guitar every time.  There's a lot of different ways to experiment with the music, as long as you don't go too far.  Once you cross a certain line though, it's not country music anymore.  As far as being labelled traditional, that's all I am.  I don't think it holds me back, it just puts me in a little different situation then some of the other artists."

Armed with a stack of great tunes, a veteran producer and a ton of confidence and enthusiasm, not to mention talent, Rodney has created a solid hardcore country album that picks up where his debut release, The Real Thing, left off. Listeners familiar with Rodney’s work will hear a growth and maturity in this album as well as a little more spit and polish. No, don’t worry – we’re talking about the good kind of polish that meticulous attention and care gives to an end product. “While recording we spent extra time making sure everything was just right and then afterwards spent a lot of time mixing and mastering.” Rodney shares, “Steve Starnes and Rich Brotherton did an amazing job of mixing this record and that is what makes it have that polished, "but not too polished" sound.”

Although the album has it's weepers and tear-jerkers, it predominantly a up-tempo album, most evident in the song's title track, Living The Good Life and it's first single, Tryin' To Get A Little Love. It's a mood that's obviously reflective of Rodney's life right now - things are looking great from where he sits. The album's mood also gets cohesiveness from the timeframe in which it was made. "The sound of the record is more "uniform" then the last since we were able to record this album all together in a 3 week span instead of spreading it out over a year and a half."

Now as the album hits the airwaves and shelves Rodney's getting pumped about taking the music directly to the people. I'm just looking forward to getting out and touring in support of this album and I'm also looking forward to writing some more for the next album.  I feel like both of these records are stepping stones, and hopefully they will get better every time we do one.  Although I will be really happy just to be able to match the first two albums every time out. I'm very proud of them both."

Rodney's debut album, The Real Thing, was largely a Texas based release, although it was available via his website and other internet locations in addition to a few out of state record stores. It was well received critically and garnered positive responses nationwide. Now he's aiming to build on that. As proud as he is of his first album, he's looking to increase the number of albums that make it off of store shelves and home to record collections. "The critical accomplishments of The Real Thing was amazing, it will be hard to get as great of reviews again because the press was mind blowing.  But that doesn't necessarily lead to album sales," he laughs "So the goal with this record more then anything is just to be able to get it into peoples hands. "

What people will be taking home is a solid, straight up country album that leaves no doubt as to how deep Rodney's roots run. You'll find a little outlaw attitude as well as a little old style countrypolitan and just about everything inbetween. From the roadhouse honky tonk of "Living Everyday Like Its Saturday Night" to the raunchy-blues of "Get On Your Mule and Ride" the album walks the fine line between classic and contemporary country music without missing a step, its foundation built firmly on solid song-writing efforts. Rodney penned eight of the album's tunes. The other three tunes have such familiar names in the songwriting  credits Clay Blaker, Tracy Byrd and Slaid Cleaves. The roster of musicians isn't too shabby either and long time country music fans will recognize the names of Earle Poole Ball and Redd Volkaert for starters.

Great things will be happening for this album if there’s any justice left in the music industry. It's too good to be sitting on the backroom shelf of a radio station. If music like this can make it to the airwaves then the future not only looks bright for Rodney but for the rest of us who hold country music close to our hearts as well.

Friend, mentor and Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen sums it up best. “Rodney Hayden is a Double Eagle, Grand Slam, Black Jack talent. He makes me want to give up my night job.”

TCB's Picks: Living The Good Life, Broke Down, Tryin To Get A Little Love

  Laurie Joulie TakeCountryBack September 2003

Watch TCB's Main Page for a chance to win an autographed copy of Rodney's new CD "Living The Good Life"