Artist: Patterson Hood
Album: Killers and Stars
Worth Buying: Yes, if you can take the darkness
You might be interested in this album is you are a fan of: Indie Folk, Americana, and Intensely dark songs that are sparsely recorded.
Tell Me More: Patterson Hood is one dark dude. At least that’s what I would think if my only information about him came from his songs. One of the principle songwriters of the Drive By Truckers (A band who’s music also deals in lot’s of dark themes, but are often tempered with irony and dark humor).
On the CD liner notes he states that he recorded the album by himself in his living room. He had just been divorced, was fighting with his band (the Truckers) and recorded it in two days, describing the album as therapy.
While he sold limited pressings at his solo shows it didn’t become more widely available till a few years ago. I have only just gotten a hold of it till now and I am blown away by the stunning and desolate starkness of the songs. This is not happy listening, but it is powerful listening.
Right out the gate with the opening track, Uncle Disney, you know what kind of a ride you are in for.
When they thaw out - Uncle Disney
Gonna be some changes made
Pointing fingers, asking questions
Forty years of decisions made.
Other songs follow suit telling dark stories of neighbors all gossiping about how a local man hasn’t been the same person since his transplant (Phil’s Transplant) and a lonely man transfixed over a picture of a golden age starlet (Frances Farmer)
An album like Killers and Stars is a rare occurrence. One when an artist needs to put aside production and just let the immediacy of the emotion coming from the first recording take precedence. And this is what
Patterson Hood has done.
What about the packaging? Standard Jewel case with an 8 panel fold out that includes all the lyrics.
Get this album on CD
Get this album on Mp3 for a few dollars less
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