The Closer I Get is quite similar to Hayden’s debut, Everything I Long For, in almost every sense. Its hushed, spare arrangements, largely built around acoustic guitars, will be familiar to anyone who heard the first record, as will his declarative vocals and simple prose. Even if The Closer I Get is simply more of the same, Hayden does his lo-fi folk quite well, and there are a number of songs here that come close to equaling the best moments from the debut. It should satisfy fans, but its melodic sameness may prevent it from finding a wider audience. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine