Well, Craig Payne is back at it again with his second album titled One Night Stand.
Who would have thought that a young boy born in France, briefly raised in the UK only to end up living in New Zealand (of all places) would have come so far in his music career? Well I definitely would have. One Night Stand is a follow up to Craig’s first album Good News (read my review of the single Just Like Yesterday from that album here), and I was definitely excited to review his latest album.
Craig has previously said that one band which has been big influence on him musically is The Beatles, and that is very apparent from the title track One Night Stand. I really like that it sounds as though it’s been recorded live, Craig has told me that about 5 different sound effects were cut and mixed together just like The Beatles did in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and that not only that, but he also recorded the lead vocals at 5am so that he sounded tired in order to give it more of an authentic “live sound”.
I also find the opening line, which is “hello good evening, let me introduce the band”, be a nice little touch as it brings to mind images of lounge bands in Las Vegas back in the 80's or 90's.
Whatever You Do is a catchy song that (should you listen carefully to the lyrics) will give you a couple of laughs while also proving that there are still people out there who have nothing but support for those who are important in their lives, this line in particular managed to get a laugh “you want to be a surgeon, you say you have what it takes. You could end up killing your patients, but everyone makes mistakes.” The track itself has a very uplifting beat that flows well alongside the lyrics and, remember that “whatever you do is fine.”
There is one track I absolutely have to talk about and that would Nineteen Sixty-Five, hands down this one is my absolute favourite from the entire album (and quite possibly my favourite song of his overall). I couldn’t tell you exactly what it is I love about this song in particular, is it how smooth the backing tracks are? Is it the fact the song reminds me of my own nights out that haven’t exactly gone to plan? Or could it be that in this song he makes a direct reference to my favourite Beatles song, Helter Skelter, with the line “spent the night together in a London bus shelter, helter skelter on the radio everybody was feeling low.”
The final song I want to talk about is Rockin' And Rolling, it’s got that uniquely classic rock vibe that Craig does so well, and it has almost a ballad feel to it with the way he sings and the slower tempo plus the line “I was sorting through my memories, of how I always thought it had to be” gives it a “break up” sort of feel to it, which all the best ballads were written about right?
One Night Stand is set for release April 1st and will be available to purchase at iTunes, Amazon and Google Play.
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