Hayes Noble’s ‘As It Was, As We Were’: A Dynamic Sophomore Punk Rock Masterpiece
On his sophomore album, As It Was, As We Were, Hayes Noble continues to refine his brand of fuzzed-out punk rock with increasingly dynamic songwriting. Recorded and mixed by Luke Tweedy (known for his work with William Elliott Whitmore, Appleseed Cast, and Erase Errata), and mastered by Carl Saff, As It Was, As We Were showcases the nineteen-year-old’s talent for blending melodious noise with timeless coming-of-age lyrics. The album features sheets of feedback colliding with driving beats and abrasive hooks, while blurred vocals shift from subdued delivery to impassioned shouts, enhancing the youthful sincerity.
Recorded just two months after his high school graduation, As It Was, As We Were tells the story of hot summer nights, first loves, and teenage desolation in the Driftless Hills surrounding the upper Mississippi. It captures the feeling of being out of step with the weekend cowboys and keg party rollers, searching for fellow outcasts and weirdos in a small town. Hayes presents a Gen Z snapshot of leaving home and facing the suffocating bleakness on the horizon. With artwork by Mike Scheer (Built to Spill, Treepeople), As It Was, As We Were solidifies Noble’s place as an emerging talent in the new generation of guitar-driven indie rockers.
Noble’s 2023 debut, ‘Head Cleaner’, showcased a massive tube-driven wall of sound. Recorded and mixed on 2″ tape by Daytrotter co-founder and analog guru Patrick Stolley, ‘Head Cleaner* highlighted Noble’s wide range of musical influences, combining earsplitting shoegaze and post-hardcore with a nod to the guitar-driven noise rock that emerged from the mid-80s punk scene. The album echoes the sounds of legendary indie guitar heroes, with elements of Dinosaur Jr., Polvo, and Superchunk breaking through a foundation of overblown punk rock. Check out “Nothing Else” below:
