Annie Hayden Issue #25

The Enemy of Love (Merge)

By John Everhart
Published: September 1st, 2005 | 12:58pm

As one of the most undeservedly overlooked indie acts of the '90s, Jersey City's Spent plodded gracefully beneath the radar, unassumingly crafting some of the decade's most inspired, heartfelt pop music. At the core of the band was Annie Hayden, her winsome, lovelorn numbers tempering the more shambolic tendencies of her band mates. On The Enemy of Love, Hayden continues her expansion as a songwriter, sounding more developed and confident than ever on this satisfyingly austere effort.

"Cara Mia" opens the record auspiciously, its gently surging twang nicely framing Hayden's sweet croon of "Somersault, stumble fall, cara mia." The gorgeous vignette "Gray" shines with a supple, Spinanes-like keening melody, while "Money Trouble" even has a degree of rhythmic stomp to it, nicely accentuating the rippling electric guitar flourish at the bridge. Penultimate track "Starring in the Movies" is a wide-eyed ballad, as baroque as this record gets with a wonderfully lush piano melody as its backbone.

The Enemy of Love is an accomplished record with a methodical, cerebral approach to the songs. No parts here are extraneous, and there's a near meticulous level of attention to detail. It does tread perilously close to adult contemporary at times, but fortunately never quite crosses over into that odious territory. There's no hidden treatises, no barbed undercurrents, just 13 well-written, exquisitely executed songs.

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