Patrick McCormic – Crisis of Confidence
It’s always a pleasure to hear a set of songs begin with a singer with a diversified voice who doesn’t sound like dozens of other singers & wannabes. Patrick has a cool-effecting vocal that begins with the title track Crisis of Confidence (Drops July 24/Independent/41:43) produced by Jim Reilley.
There are 9-well written tunes that make up this set from the Franklin, TN-based artist Patrick McCormic (acoustic guitar/vocals), & no, Patrick doesn’t sound like The Chieftains, or The Pogues – he’s a singer-songwriter with some delicately composed supple compositions that roll into the ears with their respective expertise. Plenty of storytelling decorate this album like little Steinbeck & Faulkner novellas. A couple moving through life together, the fine line between reality & memory. A bit of Southern Gothic to traditional country, & deeper into an alternative country niche.
Patrick fills many of his songs with a nostalgic air, while “Blue Hydrangea” is bathed in a bit of a darker, melancholic melodic sensibility. I like the creativity & originality expressed here. Hydrangea? Yes. Large flowering shrubs & vines with clusters of flowers (blooms) in various shades, including blue. More upbeat is the jaunty “Bless Your Little Heart” with guitar interplay & a pristine performance.
The Louisiana-born artist grew up in other locales (California & Alabama), & this is what helped him to develop his intrinsic style. Many songs are composed in a manner that even a fan of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young could appreciate. “Eli and Ellie” is one example. A bond between kids through small town snapshots. It has that special alternative folk feel (though it just lacks the CSN&Y harmonies), but that’s no blemish. It’s constructed with the same vitality & passion as that classic band.
There are no controversial tunes in this set. This is an expressive escape with an emphasis on the music, the stories, & the voice, with no headlines, & or pontificating. Patrick is in the mold of Townes van Zandt, Steve Goodman (“City of New Orleans”), Lance Cowan, & Eric Anderson. This is his comfort zone, & his quality is remarkably consistent with an album that has no filler, no campiness & no silliness. Playful? Yes. “Vacations & Letters” is like a good Steve Goodman tune, done with Patrick McCormic class.
Highlights – “Crisis of Confidence,” “Fields of Kansas,” “Bless Your Little Heart,” “Blue Hydrangea,” “Eli and Ellie,” “3/4 Time,” & “Vacations & Letters.”
Musicians – Eric Fritsch (keys), Adam Ollendorff & Mike Waldron (electric & steel guitars), Ken Coomer & Jamie Dick (drums).
Color image courtesy of Patrick’s website. CD @ https://patrickmccormic.com/