JP Payton – MTN Blue
JP Payton is originally from Indiana and old timey style songwriter, who’s now taken up residence in the culturally rich town of Ithaca, New York, playing as a duo called Freight. JP has a new album MTN Blue. The songs on this album are thoughtful acoustic pieces of Midwestern Americana fare. This album was produced and mixed by JP; engineered by Will Russell at Electric Wilburland Ithaca, NY and also by RP Payton at Switchyard South in Bloomington, Indiana. It was mastered at Midline Studios in Ithaca, NY.
“Thank You So” taps into the “just normal” imagery that often characterizes great songwriting: think John Prine and his everyday people. JP sings of “sure s I’m here in this old familiar chair / old familiar songs hanging in the air / same four walls and a new coat of paint / I’ll have you know that the place looks great.”
“Little Late” is a bit of a mournful pleading as things slide away at what seems to be the relationship’s end and the acoustic guitar playing is raw and authentic.
“Starting Over Again” adds a touch of pedal steel, bass and drums to this thoughtful catchy number where JP’s vocals strike a chord that sounds like Richard Buckner and Jay Farrar. This song is quite a delight and achieves that Americana sweet spot.
“Wheels Falling Off” tells the plaintive tale we can all understand: “wheels falling off, I can’t get a tow, just trying to make it home.” On “Somehow” JP, on acoustic guitar, is joined by Liam Lawson on nylon string guitar and Loveday Greene on rich vibrant vocal harmonies: “baby can you lift me up? I’ve been too far down on love, I’ve been out of shape and broke down, somehow.” “6th of Jan” takes on the chilling day that we all watched a mob “sh-ttin in the halls of shared reality. If I had not seen, then I would not have believed…it was right there on the news… climbing through windows, shattering glass.”
JP Payton’s songs describe adversity, longing and, ultimately, wishes for a better future in arrangements that solidly add to the Americana foundation. He should step up and take his place with pride within the walls that Son Volt built.
The majority of songs on the album are played by JP solo acoustic and singing.A Additional musicians on the album are RP Payton on pedal steel, bass, and vocals; Liam Lawson on nylon string guitar; Lovely Greene on vocals; and Brandon Goldstein on drum and vocals. All songs by JP Payton, except Job Well Done (JP Payton, RP Payton), Big Bright Moon (JP Payton, Nick Dittmeier) and Need to Know (JP Payton, Dan Forsyth).
Find more details and information here on his website: https://www.freightmusic.com/
