I have had a pirated copy of this cd for years. I didn't know who it was but have been trying to find out forever. The T finally found it for me and since I had been listening to it for over a year, I felt I had to buy it. I would say Jude Haines is a poet with a good voice who knows how to play as well. He is deep and insightful. His voice is like Kalua and cream. I am glad to buy something from someone I already enjoyed

The debut self-titled album by Jude Haines is a delightful trip into a world of twisted tales, dark overtones and evocative lyrics. The tales are stories of broken hearts, dreams and tragedies sung with heart, and soul and much integrity. Power vocals and great instrumentation combine to make this a dynamic, debut disc and a powerful venture into the abyss known as the music industry. 12 players have joined Haines on this album, bringing the sounds of flute, recorder, cello, Brazilian percussion, trumpet and sax to the standard mix of piano, drums, bass and electric guitars. Add to the mix, the power guitar of Kevin Breit and this is a must have for music fans. It is no easy task labeling the music of Haines because he combines many genres including folk, jazz, rock and soul. He has been compared to Jeff Buckley and Dave Matthews but if you listen closely, very early Billy Joel comes to mind. The opening track "December" starts with the beat of a piano and the eloquent vocal styling of Haines and immediately alerts the listener that they are in for a treat. Piano and acoustic guitar blend effortlessly on "The Night Can Be So Long" captivating the listener and sending them down a quiet path through a forest or park…but hold on for this track takes a wicked "rocky" turn near the end into a rock ballad. "Falling" is a wonderful piece reminiscent of early James Taylor or Loggins and Messina. The vocals seem to carry the listener to a peaceful, tranquil place and the background musicians wrap their notes around Haines vocals, creating a perfect match. All eleven tracks on this disc work. They are great examples of what four years of creating and refining can do for a singer-songwriter’s repertoire. This is sure to be the start of another great career.