Rating: ++++

Whenever companies would send CDs for review, they usually enclose fact sheets about the artists.

Last week, ex-Savage Garden's maiden effort as a solo act found its way to me. Surprisingly, it came with a review by one Ronaldo T. Santos. Though I don't know the guy, I agree to things he saidafter listening to "Spin" myself.

The following is a slightly paraphrased version of what he wrote. "A new leaf in Darren Hayes' career book, "Spin" is a musical
expedition of sorts having been recorded electronically. The album's musical skeleton, though not far from Savage
Garden's, is a collage of synthesizers, drum loops and samples.

It also is a far cry from the thematic simplicity of today's mediocre pop. Here, Darren paints a complex gray that's quite
different from the black and white shades of boy band music. It is frank and apologetic ("Insatiable," "Dirty"), sincerely obsessed
Saturday Night Fever homages in "Crush (1980 Me)", and even a tinge of flamenco in "Insatiable."

Truly, Darren breathes his songs with beautiful pain and exhilaration – reasons why people are obsessed with Darren Hayes."