''Hayseed'' is the ninth studio album by the American singer-songwriter

Susan Werner Susan Werner (born 1965) is an American singer-songwriter. Much of Werner's work has been in the contemporary folk genre. Career Werner was raised on her family's farm near Manchester, Iowa, about an hour west of Dubuque. She became interested ...

. It was released in 2013 (see

2013 in music This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2013 in music. Specific locations Specific genres Albums released Highest critically reviewed albums (Metacritic) Awards Bands formed * Band-Maid * Beach Slang * Bi ...

). The project was commissioned by the University of Nebraska's

Lied Center for Performing Arts The Lied Center for Performing Arts (frequently shortened to Lied Center) is a multi-venue performing arts facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. It opened in 1990 on the southwest edge of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's City Campus ...

. The album is a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

about people and lifestyles in farm towns in

rural America Rural areas in the United States, often referred to as rural America, consists of approximately 97% of the United States' land area. An estimated 60 million people, or one-in-five residents (17.9% of the total U.S. population), live in rural Ame ...

, with songs inspired by local characters. Werner, an Iowa native from a farming family, has taken a strong interest in promoting local and

sustainable Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livin ...

agriculture, themes which are dealt with on the album in songs such as "Herbicides" about

herbicide Herbicides (, ), also commonly known as weedkillers, are substances used to control undesired plants, also known as weeds.EPA. February 201Pesticides Industry. Sales and Usage 2006 and 2007: Market Estimates. Summary in press releasMain page fo ...

s and marriage equality and "Snowmobiles" about global warming. The album was initially funded through PledgeMusic, with ten percent of donations earmarked for

Practical Farmers of Iowa Practical Farmers of Iowa (also known as PFI or Practical Farmers) is a non-profit farmer organization supporting agricultural producers in Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi ...

, the Midwest Organic and Sustainability Education Service (in

Spring Valley, Wisconsin Spring Valley is a village in Pierce and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,352 at the 2010 census. Of those, 1,346 were in Pierce County and six in St. Croix County. The village is mostly within the Town of S ...

) and

The Land Institute The Land Institute is an American nonprofit research, education, and policy organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture, based in Salina, Kansas. Their goal is to develop an agricultural system based on perennial crops that "has the ecolo ...

. Before and after the album's official release, Werner began touring the country in a series of shows called "The Hayseed Project", in which she purchases, samples, and gives away local produce before or during her shows.

Track listing

All songs written by Susan Werner #"City Kids (The Revenge of Kevin Oberbroeckling)" – 2:32 #"Back to the Land" – 3:36 #"Snowmobiles (The Worries of Patrick Lundquist)" – 3:39 #"Bumper Crop" – 2:28 #"While You Wait for the Rain" – 4:46 #"Egg Money (The Confession of Irene Broghammer)" – 3:32 #"Herbicides" – 2:23 #"Something to be Said" – 4:00 #"Plant the Stars" – 3:40 #"Iowa" – 3:09 #"Ode to Aldo Leopold" – 3:11 #"Farm Sale December 8, 2012" – 2:33 (Hidden track)

Personnel

*Susan Werner – composer, acoustic guitar, primary artist, vocals *Gilat Bailen – children's chorus *Marty Ballou – electric bass guitar, upright bass *Sonny Barbato – accordion *Fiona Campbell – children's chorus *Melissa Fine – children's chorus *Concetta Gordon – backing vocals *Jim Gwin – drums *Duke Levine – banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin *Laurie MacAllister – backing vocals *Maya Mokady – children's chorus *Mimi Rabson – fiddle *Steve Sadler – Dobro, acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin *Patricia Washienko – guest artist, percussion *Dagney Winner – children's chorus *Ashleigh Woolf – children's chorus

Production

*Producer: Crit Harmon *Cover art Concept: Amy Reeder *Engineer: Sean Cahalin, Crit Harmon, Lisa Yves *Editing: BJ Mansuetti *Graphic design: Krista Loewen *Mastering: Glenn Barratt *Photography: Tracy Button *Video: James Davies

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Susan Werner albums 2013 albums