Dave's Review

David Patillo wrote all eleven songs on his latest release titled Standing. Two songs were co-written: "1 Heart, 2 Hands, 3 Nails" with Tommy Steffy and Randy Campbell; and "I Love Jesus" with Blake Messer. The remaining nine tunes are Patillo exclusives.

This recording fulfills two purposes. Listeners can enjoy Standing for its own artistic merit, because the production quality by Kevin McManus is very good. Standing could also be considered as a demo for artists seeking material to record. One or two songs are a stretch for Patillo as a vocalist, but even on those you can see the potential for other artists. A group like the Crabb Family could tear it up on "Good God," for example, even though it doesn't really suit Patillo's laid back style of singing.

Overall, the songwriting quality is outstanding. "Make Me A Promise" and "Time Always Changes" in particular are true gems. Patillo has a gift for capturing your attention with a unique phrase. I try not to express emotional responses to CDs I review, but at the risk of breaking that self imposed rule, the best way I can describe Patillo's songs in print is to say they never fail to connect with me. His music is message driven, but there's also an admirable craft in his writing. I suppose I'm drawn to his lyrics more than I am to the manner in which he sings. That's not to say I don't notice lyrics with other artists, but many times my primary focus is on HOW they render a particular phrase more than the phrase itself.

Part of this is due to Patillo's basic vocal delivery style which forces you to redirect your attention to the lyrics. He makes me think of William Lee Golden of the Oak Ridge Boys in some respects, in that he doesn't overly decorate his melodies. The production quality on Standing is firmly in a traditional Country music style, which matches Patillo's vocals well. If you enjoy traditional Country artists in the vein of Golden (vocally) or perhaps Tom T. Hall, you should enjoy Standing.

by David Bruce Murray