Hyperdramatic

Hyperdramatic is the second studio album by Canadian singer Damhnait Doyle, released in 2000 (see 2000 in music) on EMI Music Canada, four years after her debut album, Shadows Wake Me. The album was produced by Dave Hodge.

Hyperdramatic
Studio album by Damhnait Doyle
Released	2000
Genre	Contemporary folk
Label	EMI Music Canada
Producer	Dave Hodge
Damhnait Doyle chronology
Shadows Wake Me (1996) Hyperdramatic (2000) Davnet (2003)

Doyle spent three years developing her songwriting skills and working on material for the album. Much of the material came from her personal journal entries that initially she had not intended to be lyrics.^[1] In contrast to her previous album, in which she co-wrote most of the lyrics but not the music, on Hyperdramatic she co-wrote all of the music as well.^[2] Songwriting collaborators included the album's producer, Dave Hodge, as well as Christopher Ward and Craig Northey.^[3]

The lead single, "Tattooed", charted in Canada, and its video was played in rotation on MuchMusic, MusiquePlus, and MuchMoreMusic.^[1] The Calgary Herald's album review called Doyle "moodier, more experienced, more focussed" compared to her first album, and said that "her voice soothes, slices, soars, all the while quaking with feeling."^[4] Ben Rayner of the Toronto Star praised the title track as well as Doyle's "nicely sharp-edged voice", but said that on the whole the album is "hampered by generic songwriting and dutifully stylized overproduction that's trying hard not to sound equally generic."^[5] Similarly, a review in the Edmonton Journal called the album "beautiful but creatively boring".^[6]

According to EMI, this album represented the first time a Canadian musician on a major label offered free downloads of the album (for a limited time).^[7]

Track listing

1. "Maybe It's You"
2. "So Well"
3. "Hyperdramatic"
4. "Tattooed"
5. "Learn to Crawl"
6. "Lie to You"
7. "Never Too Late"
8. "Elusive Drug"
9. "(Because I) Love Myself"
10. "Sleep Past You"
11. "Maybe a Son"

References

1. Mersereau, Bob (February 12, 2000). "Damhnait Doyle isn't 18 anymore: The Newfoundland singer is poised to make a comeback", Telegraph-Journal.
2. St. Pierre, Denis (April 8, 2000). "Singer determined to do it her way: 'I don't really care how it sells; I made this record for myself'", Sudbury Star, p. B11.
3. Christie, Rod (May–June 2000). "Hyperschematic... a guide to Hyperdramatic", Canadian Musician 22 (3): 38.
4. Watson, Blair S. (March 23, 2000). "CD reviews: Damhnait Doyle: Hyperdramatic (EMI)", Calgary Herald, p. HL16.
5. Rayner, Ben (March 25, 2000). "Hyperdramatic says it all for Doyle", Toronto Star. Convenience link (fee required).
6. Dunlevy, T'Cha (March 25, 2000). "New Releases: Hyperdramatic: Damhnait Doyle", Edmonton Journal, p. C3.
7. Sperounes, Sandra (March 4, 2000). "Release me: Damhnait Doyle wins first prize", Edmonton Journal, p. C3.