Elk-Lake Serenade is Canadian singer/songwriter Hayden's most uplifting album to date, focused around his moving lyrics, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, harmonies, and harmonicas. Hayden's debut "Everything I Long For" was released in 1996 and made many reviewers' Top 10 lists; he followed up with "The Closer I Get" in 1998. After a three-year silence, Badman released Hayden's wonderful "Skyscraper National Park" in the winter of 2002, once again earning him international praise. "Elk-Lake Serenade" continues where "Skyscraper?" left off. Here, his sparse fingerpicked ballads mix with full-band rock songs to create a rich and rewarding listening experience. Pianos, pedal steel, and strings accent Hayden's guitar and piano playing, while his stories of life and loss shine through.