Album Review: Hailey, It Happens - Aurora

Hailing from Saugus, Massachusetts, two good friends, Chris Cleary & Bobby DiBari embarked on a collaboration under the name Hailey, It Happens. With a host of pop and electro influences in the mix, these guys are looking to make a mark with their second album ‘Aurora’.

The opener, ‘I Gave Her My Heart, She Gave Me A Pen’ begins with some synthesised drums, strings and piano and immediately gives you an idea of what to expect. The vocals come in and are certainly a driving force in the song, adding to the atmosphere of the music in a great way, making this track a strong opener.

The following all seem to follow the same general format; the title track ‘Aurora’ and others such as ‘Never Without A Fight’ and ‘Brighter’ sound particularly similar, but you’ll find that whilst there’s a continuing theme throughout the album, these guys are constantly refining and perfecting their sound.

One thing that certainly stands out is the vocal work from Chris Cleary. You could probably get away with comparing him to the guys from Fall Out Boy or Owl City, but in all honesty, I think Cleary has the better voice. This talent, alongside the frank and introspective lyrics and intricate compositions make ‘Aurora’ an interesting listen.

In terms of the music (as opposed to the lyrics), you get a more upbeat feel with ‘The Golden Age Of Radio’. This change in sound is suited to the middle of the album and compliments the other tracks all the way until its end with ‘Hurricane’.

All in all, Hailey, It Happens have created a solid album that has a lot of depth and a lot of potential. What it lacks in variety, it certainly gains in production value and great songwriting and is certainly an album to check out.

3.5/5

'Aurora' by Hailey, It Happens is available now.

Hailey, It Happens on Facebook, Twitter, Purevolume, MySpace, Bandcamp, Tumblr and Big Cartel.

Sandeep Dawett