Judging from his big, raspy voice, you'd think that Dave Patten (http://davepatten.com) was in his forties, a black-clad, chronic chain smoker who's been through several failed marriages. Nope. Not even close. Patten is actually still in high school. Somebody so young with a voice so powerful is about as common as a politician who isn't corrupt. It's no surprise that Patten found himself in a recording studio, putting those vocals on CD in case nobody believes it.
There seems to be three parts to Patten's album. The first 1/3 of the tracks are soft (musically speaking), unplugged cuts that relax the ears. The acoustic-based "Remember When" and the title track are the most effective lyrically. "Remember When" questions a friend who has changed for the worse while in "Too Close, Too Far," Patten is trying to save a failing relationship. This is not adolescent fluff but mature songs that anybody could relate to.
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By "Interlude I," Patten shifts gears, aiming for an odd combination of sax-fueled jazz (courtesy of Todd Schneider) and trippy Radiohead sounds. With the next chapter, Patten starts to incorporate a more rock & roll approach - witness the crunchy, bluesy riffs on "Summer's Rolling Through." It's an eye-opening transition, one that creates excitement. On the subsequent cuts "Shine Through My Window" and "Interlude II," Patten lets electric guitarist Josh Druhan let it rip, creating some truly mesmerizing moments.
The LP concludes with a combination of both styles, the gentle and the not-so-gentle showing the depth of Patten's range. By the time we get to the Pink Floyd-ish guitar solo at the end, we are hooked for life and left wanting for more.
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