Originating from the lively music scene of Portland, Oregon, Patina rises as a heartfelt guiding light, upholding the essence of Americana and Folk music. Their 4th studio LP, “Good Noise,” has just been released, and stands as a compelling showcase of their music talents. With every melody they weave and lyric they deliver, Patina constructs a harmonious resonance that deeply touches the listener’s soul. Rock the Pigeon is proud to break down the record track by track.
The opening track, “Through the Eyes of a Mystic,” begins with the striking of an electric guitar note, building anticipation until six seconds later, when the band bursts into their signature Americana sound. Both acoustic and electric guitars unite in playing a captivating riff, enriching the depth of the composition. This remarkable piece offers listeners a glimpse into Patina’s harmonious vocals, exceptional songwriting abilities, and overall musical style. Patina says that the song “is about imaging what it would be like to start to have a somewhat skewed or delusional view of the world, but having the insight to recognize it’s happening, and in turn wishing others could see the world through your eyes.” Patina invites audiences to contemplate seeing the world through their perspective. As the song progresses past the two-minute mark, fans are treated to an awe-inspiring organ solo, followed by captivating guitar solos.
Next we get to hear a bass and vocal driven song, “Great Columbia.” This song was originally written as a solo acoustic song and then brought to the band years later. The song is about moving away from your hometown and then eventually moving back years later. For Patina, the focus of this love song is The Columbia River in Oregon. The dedication lyrics go: “When she sees you, she’ll probably pull you in and place a kiss on your cheek, You’ll probably fall in love with her the very first time you meet, when you see her near you, you’ll never want to leave.” This rock n’ roll leaning song has some seriously catchy melodies and very universal lyrics that anyone can relate to, especially if you love the place you are from.
“I wrote this one quite a few years ago actually but finally brought it to the full band. I’m from Oregon originally, and had been living on the East coast for 4 years and had just moved back. The Columbia River was the open palm, the familiar embrace, I needed to welcome me back.” – Patina
“Great Columbia” flows in nicely to the next song on the record. “Needle” is a rock n’ roll song that blesses listeners with another incredible bass line. This song is all about the end of a relationship, making use of the metaphor of the needle wearing out on a record player. Listeners will be captivated by the guitars, organs, and spunky bass line on this song. This song is quite the epic jam!
The sounds become more laid back for “Waiting on the Rain.” This song is about California wildfires and was inspired by an article that the songwriter had read about a man who refused to leave the Redwoods where he lived and was unfortunately killed by the wildfire. This bluesy song will take your breath away. It’s a soulful ballad from start to finish that will really tug on your heartstrings.
The record flows perfectly from “Waiting on the Rain” into “Feel Your Fire.” This is my personal favorite song on the record because it is so soulful and moving. Every note that is sung can be heard through the body and soul. “Feel Your Fire” shines brightly among the array of musical jewels in this collection. This serene yet poignant ballad explores the depths of loss and yearning for human connection, intertwining soulful vocals, rich harmonies, and captivating guitar melodies. It resonates with the universal journey of love and sorrow, encapsulating raw emotions with haunting grace, while also incorporating elements of the blues for added depth and texture. This song was born during the lockdown, when playing music with other people was not possible. Bands are groups that become communities that become families, so it could be especially heartbreaking when it’s impossible to get together to jam.
The pace picks up for “Lost on Your Sidewalks.” This song is about the songwriters’ fun adventures through Europe. On his trip, he gets lost metaphorically and physically and revels in the reality of being “unknown” to the people around him. He’s far away from home and from all the people he knows. There is freedom in just getting to exist. The song has a dazzling horn section plus bluesy guitar riffs. The big band energy really picks up the energy! This is a great halfway through song.
Rock n’ roll and blues is the spirit of the next song, “Life That I Passed Through.” This guitar and bass heavy song is an energetic jam with lyrics that question the way life has turned out. “Life That I Passed Through” has the most out of the box melodies on the record. The bass and guitar riffs follow along perfectly.
“Grace” is another soulful ballad, this time about migration and the border. It’s an important piece that can evoke understanding about a human experience that is maybe different from your own. “Echolocator” keeps on with similar themes. The lyrics in “Echolocator” are all about challenging our perspectives, removing our biases that we may not even be aware of, and learning to see through the perspective of a fellow human. Checking our privileges, biases, and social locations, can help us to grow as humans and aids in making the world a better place.
“In a way, “Echolocator” may have been the most fun. It took a long time to get that one ready as a band with all he changes, etc, but once we were in the studio we nailed it in one take, which was hard to believe.” – Patina
“Carry Me Home” is the perfect final track for the record. A gorgeous piano plays a call and response with the electric guitars. This song has a retro rock n’ roll feel to it. The lyrics are all about loving someone enough to be willing to physically carry them. This is an excellent song, with beautiful guitar and piano riffs, plus a bass solo that truly carries the record home!
“My nephew asked me to carry him home one day when we were walking home from his school one day. That got me thinking — even when we’re all grown up it would be nice to have someone to carry us home sometimes.” – Patina
The songwriter of Patina cites his influences as The Band, M. Ward, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Joni Mitchell, Jeff Tweedy, Gillian Welch, Buddy Holly, and Bob Dylan.
Listen to the record on Spotify now:
Written by Ryan Cassata
The post Exploring Good Noise: Patina’s Heartfelt Americana and Rock n’ Roll Sound appeared first on ROCK THE PIGEON.
