Patterson Hood / Murdering Oscar (and other love songs)

Although Patterson Hood’s “Killers and Stars” (2004) had its moments, the lo-fi demo quality felt like the purging of personal odds and ends and outtakes. Interesting? Yes. Essential? No. "Murdering Oscar (and other love songs)", over fifteen years in the works with some tracks predating the Drive By Truckers, is the Patterson Hood solo disc fans have been waiting for. Produced by Dave Barbee (Sugar) the rawness of “Oscar” isn’t in the recording. It is found in the character sketches of a murderer, assorted lost souls and hard living. (Patterson has been kind enough to post a track by track description of the disc on his website ).
Hood finds glimmers of hope in the darkness. The “Pride of the Yankees” connects Lou Gehrig, King Kong and life as a father after 9/11 while “Grandaddy” finds Patterson, in a happy place, growing old and singing of life’s simple pleasures: “eat myself an apple”, “bounce you on my knee” and “hide chocolate candies all around the house”. With Patterson’s distinct voice, gritty songwriting skills and the guitars turned up, do tracks like “I Understand Now” and “Pollyanna” sound like the Drive By Truckers? Absolutely, but with “Murdering Oscar” finally seeing the light of day there’s no doubt who came first.

Release date: 6/23

Upcoming Patterson Hood Tour Dates:

Mon Jun 22 Philadelphia, PA WORLD CAFÉ LIVE
Tue Jun 23 Brooklyn, NY MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
Wed Jun 24 New York, NY BOWERY
Thu Jun 25 Washington, DC BLACK CAT
Fri June 26th Richmond VA Deep Groove Records
Sat Jun 27 Athens, GA ATHFEST
Wed Jul 08 San Francisco, CA INDEPENDENT
Fri Jul 10 Portland, OR WONDER BALLROOM
Sat Jul 11 Seattle, WA NO DEPRESSION FESTIVAL