Before We Turn To Dust, San Francisco-based songwriter Sean Hayes' newest release, was written and recorded in the same year he became a father. You can hear the love and struggle throughout. There is something raw and down-home about this music. Simple and straightforward the piano, guitar, drums, bass, occasional horns and back-up singing surround his warm, vibrato-laden voice that leads the way down ''side street alleys'' or to ''that spot with the jukebox where we can sing your favorite tune.'' Like great country or soul music these songs tell simple stories that also make you want to move. Hayes is notable accompanied by veterans Andrew Borger (Tom Waits/Norah Jones) on drums, Devin Hoff (The Nels Cline Singers, Xiu Xiu) on bass and relative new comers Ezra Lipp (Thao + The Get Down Stay Down) on drums and multi-instrumentalist Eric Khun (Silian Rail) on keys, drums, and percussion. The record was mixed by Eli Crews (tUnE-yArDs) at New and Improved Recording in Oakland, CA.