Customer Reviews

Coercion Street

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an an amazingly mature debute album-it sounds like he's been writing great songs for 30 years...reminds me alot of John Hiatt's voice though without the rasp.Real downhome mature and eternal material he's writing about too. He plays an understated but fine guitar-usually slide-most of the songs are slow like a lazy river that gently carries you along on a warm, perfect spring afternoon in a canoe. If I didn't love to dance and play more uptempo music ,I'd have given the CD a 5. I think a lot of really good musicians are going to learn alot about music and songwritng from listening to this CD. Peace...Saildivers

I stumbled onto Ernie Payne's "Curse of Hamm" and it's haunting lyrics and music stopped me in my tracks. "Who's this guy?" After some digging found out he's one helluva songwriter, amazing musician, and an insightful man. His accompaniments are much like his lyrics.... sparse, at times shocking, other times warm and tasteful, and always full of soul.

An incredible talent with a mind wide open into the "human thing". He's got class and balls! Someone else wrote "Ernie writes the songs I wish I could write" I agree. So does EVERYONE I steer toward his music. Hope there's more to come.. and soon. Get this CD, you're in for some good, good stuff!

"..... the use of the world is to make soul" absolutely true Ernie, and you did it!

A neighbour asked me to come and visit a concert of Ernie Payne in a city nearby. This artist was unkown to me, but listening to some of his music on the Internet, convinced me to go.
Ernie Payne appears to be a veteran who made his CD debut only now. One of those best kept secrets? The concert showed how you often can find so much more truth and real music in some little, sociable, backstreet joint than in a big stadium, or something like that.

Ernie Payne is a soulful, poetic storyteller with a vivid mimicry and body language. Even the most painful story was followed by a big grin. Only accompanied by his guitar and often not even that, or almost the complete last set a guitar with only 5 strings, he was truly convincing, totally himself and relaxed. The man has been around, for sure!

On the CD Ernie Payne is accompanied by a subtle, tasteful playing- and delightful sounding band. Here and there I wished they would've (could've?) taken some more time for the finishing.
The production has got a warm and intimate atmosphere, underlining Payne's often sublime, insightful lyrics.
The songs bring to mind artists like Ray Charles (country style), Van Morrison (Ancient Eyes), John Hiatt, Ted Hawkins, Robert Cray, Taj Mahal and even ZZ-Top (Nothing Wrong with Texas) but he's more than enough convincing and experienced to stand on his own and anything but inferior to these artists.

Wonderful how someone who I only know so short, made such an impression.