We're Only Human (Highway 87, 2025)

Singer-songwriter Hayes Carll begins "We're Only Human" with an elegant piano intro to the title track that reminds us of our imperfections (and that we're anything but elegant) in a world where too many have become annoyingly egotistical. The tune is filled with classic Carll lines such as "'Cuz we're only human/Nothing more/So scared to lose a game we didn't choose/But not knowing how to keep score."

An aspect that separates this, his 10th album, from the others is the musical accompaniment, some tracks featuring as many as nine or 10 musicians. "High," for example, has fiddle, flugelhorn and flute. "Stay Here A While," co-written with MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger, has clarinet, trumpet and trombone to accentuate the message of enjoying life in the moment.

Most tracks feature guitarist Gordy Quist and keyboardist Trevor Nealon of the Band of Heathens, while others have them together with frequent pedal steel collaborator Geoff Queen. There's no better example than the gorgeous ballad, "One Day," which is a terrific exposé on accepting the cards one's been dealt and expressing gratitude for such.

Pivoting from the serious, with the same musical cast, Carll delivers the upbeat "What I Will Be" with lyrical nuggets such as "I am what I am/An insecure mountain/A long-winded fountain of useless advice," and "I'm gonna earn my scars/From Livin' too close to the fire/Get kicked oout of the choir for singing my/own song."

Lighthearted fare appears in the jug band-like "Good People (Thank Me)" with nice turns from mandolinist Noah Jefferies and Nealon's piano along with a choir of background vocalists. "I Got Away With It' is a slow blues with a tighter musical ensemble, a story song sung with a wink and a sly smile.

All the preceding is summed up in the hymn-like closer, "May I Never," an anthem of optimism with a coterie of friends, including Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shovels & Rope, Darrrell Scott, Nicole Atkins, Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi, who each take a verse.

"We're Only Human" may well be Carll's most fully realized album to date.