Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus – Pattonville
This showcase starts quite light-hearted, with a soft, folky style popular in the ‘60s, which featured singers like Tom Rush, the Kingston Trio, Pete Seeger, David Bromberg, Phil Ochs, & Tom Paxton.
However, Mr. Patton (vocals/acoustic guitar) isn’t too snarky with his endeavor. He has some Vietnam references & clever themes in his compositions, though some are a bit wordy. But he’s a storyteller troubadour in the classic mold. Some tunes will tug at the ear like “Hard Times,” which is particularly well-conceived. “Goodbye Joe Williams” is a pensive ballad along the lines of Arlo Guthrie. There isn’t too much vinegar in Jim’s voice, but he’s definitely cut from the same cloth as those well-known folkies. Don’t expect a rich-sounding vocalist like Fred Neil.
There are 12 perfectly suited folky blends to Pattonville (Dropped June 1/Berkaline Records/40:08) produced by Ron Flynt (bass/piano/harmonium/acoustic guitar/bgv/accordion) in Austin, TX. There’s nothing campy. It’s a sincere showcase & despite Jim’s unobtrusive vocals, “I Didn’t Stay Down” is an optimistic rendering. A bit more upbeat & attractive is “Mean Old Man” with its almost child-like arrangement with the violin. It could be considered Jim’s equivalent to Joni Mitchell’s “Circle Game.” It’s a curious piece & well played.
Some words are a little awkward; lines are cramped with lots of lyrics. Jim maintains the ‘60s folky tradition with class, which some listeners will interpret as retro. It must be appreciated as a nostalgic work with songs emblematic of a classic folk era. Musically, Jim has some interesting melodies, excellent playing with a limited vocal. He isn’t Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine, or Tim Hardin. He does have the necessary tonality to push his best songs over the line.
Not all tunes have this same level of promise & potency. Jim’s voice isn’t monotone, or gruff like Bob Dylan, but it has little in the way of highs & lows in the intonation & phrasing. His limited range is probably best suited in this mode. His narrative style of singing suits the material. The most intense piece is “Happy Family” with its stronger lyrical presence. The violin is darker; the backup vocals are punctuating & the tune itself is simply imaginative with good guitar.
While the lyrics to some songs are wordy, many can be ideal if Jim does some editing. “Ghosts In This Room Tonight” concludes the album & is the most singularly, finely written piece with its Tim Hardin melodic poignancy.
Highlights – “Hard Times,” “Goodbye Joe Williams,” “Mean Old Man,” “I Didn’t Stay Down,” “Happy Family,” & “Ghosts In the Room Tonight.”
Musicians – Sherry Brokus (harmonies/percussion), Alice Hasen (violin), & Scrappy Jud Newcomb (Resonator, Stella & classical acoustic guitars/12-string acoustic guitar/mandolin).
Photo courtesy of Berkalin Records. CD @ Bandcamp & Apple + Hemifran & https://www.pattonandbrokus.com