I first accidentally discovered troubadour Patrick Park many a long year ago, playing at Iota in Arlington, Virginia with another band I’ve long since forgotten. Something about his voice, so very pure and clear and somewhat rustic, struck a chord with me, and still does. Now, years later, Patrick has released another record, the fantastic effort Come What Will. And friends, it’s mighty, mighty fine.From the very start I loved Come What Will. The Neil Young-ian sound (it’s very much in the vein of “Out On The Weekend”) to the guitar on opening track “You’ll Get Over” compliments Park’s tinkling timbre to perfection. There’s an honesty to it, and to the entire record, that you don’t come across all that much. “You don’t listen much,” Park laments, “to what goes on inside,” as he laments a love lost. And yes, I do very much love that little harmonica break towards the end of the song. Bonus points for sure.
“Blackbird Through The Dark” is one of my favorites on the record, heavily retro in its heady folk sound, with Park’s voice sounding particularly poignant and bright. “Silence and Storm” is another gem, full of that effervescent Park-ian sound and plenty of well-played guitars. “You Were Always The One” is simply breathtaking, earnest and burdened with the weight of a heavy heart. “You were always the one I was lookin’ for, babe/it just took time to realize,” Park proclaims in his appealingly unpretentious tone.
Amiable and frank, Park has a gift for crafting a down-home, spare sound that will utterly capture your heart. Though the album is perfectly produced, there’s a casual geniality to each and every song, as though the album, and Park, are holding out open arms, ready to envelop you in a heartfelt embrace. Come What Will is such a welcoming record, and feels instantly familiar and comfortable. Could it be a classic in the making? Only time will tell, but right about now it sure does sound that way to me.
mp3: You’ll Get Over (Patrick Park from Come What Will)
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