Suffering through a nomadic existence of barely treading a music career, Brandon persists when others would have pleaded his/her parents for a cozy return. Patton outlasted a solo effort (1997) and his band (Three Against Four). Having such an extended career with modest results must force angry rhetorical questions, but love, confidence and good ol’ fashioned sticktoitiveness charged Should Confusion.
"Counting the Paces" leads the CD with a lush bittersweet ballad strung with acoustics, soul-emptying harmonies and a tasteful use of the synth bass -- yes, reminiscent of Beck’s Sea Change except Brandon has natural sonance of Ed Roland (Collective Soul). Ecstatic, I could not envision a greater piece than "Counting the Paces". But if you already viewed the track highlights and/or the grade, the critiquing direction should not be in question.
Guerilla bushwhacks cleverly attack. My first hair-raising moment occurred when the casually boppity "What’s the Worst That Could Happen?" instantaneously erupted into a grunge-structured onslaught within in and out of its chorus. Crashing the middle of the recording are the exuberantly irreverent cuts, "Did That All Before" and "Auspicious Moment". Both altered the perceived tone so much that it felt like I was manipulated by the previous songs.
During the second half, Should Confussion boomeranged; it cunningly (and quietly) ended with the falsetto-laden valentine, "Someday When Were Old". Even more choice than Brandon’s illusionary sonics and unorthodox structures are his transcendent lyrics. They share identifiable aspects of Bob Dylan’s adroitness and Steven Malkmus’ silly quirkiness to form the most memorable lines heard by any artist reviewed in Spunout Central’s Underground Archive section. In fact, this is my new favorite CD.
Click over to Brandon’s site and sample Should Confusion. Many overlooked and superb American artists strike once they focus on Europe -- do not let ignorance provoke Brandon Patton to be another.
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