Album Review
Birmingham, AL's talented Jesse Payne has come a long way since Humming the Tunes of Luxury. His older power-pop with new wave accents has given way to gorgeous, rustic alt-country/Americana folk-pop for the ‘00s that more snugly fits his Southern surroundings. These four splendid, rounded selections — prefacing an LP in progress — are better produced, and the full band treatments sparkle as brightly as his wonderful self-harmonies, like on the standout "Skeletons." Additionally, Payne's pipes have thickened with lovely molasses, one-sixth each Tim Hardin, Harry Nilsson, Leon Redbone, Roger Miller, Ron Sexsmith, and Nashville Skyline Bob Dylan. Elsewhere, the forlorn, piano-quieted "Thief Among Us" and road-weary "Comfort Here" dabble at the shudder-factor in Big Star's Third, from nearby Memphis. Finally, these are countered by the countrified dandy skip of "Until the Roots Surface." ~ Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover, All Music Guide
