The music of Jesse Payne is difficult to pigeonhole, though it would most likely get lumped in with the alt-country movement. Jesse Payne was born and raised in Birmingham, and he has remained in his hometown to pursue his rock'n'roll dream. His influences range from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen, but also include punk pioneers The Ramones and alternative rock heroes The Smiths. Melding these and more modern sounds, Payne brings
together pop, roots rock, and punk in most impressive fashion. In addition to lead vocals, Payne plays guitar, harmonica, and piano. Backing him up are Anthony Powell with some amazing drumwork and harmony vocals, Shawn Avery with his steady bass-playing and
vocals, and Brian Sunderman with some additional guitar work. Together, they are a tight unit that is tearing up the local and regional music circuits. They even recently appeared on FOX 6's Good Day Alabama - their television debut.

Jesse Payne began writing his first album in late 2003. With the assistance of Powell and Avery, he pared down four albums worth of material to the 14 songs that comprise Humming The Tunes Of Luxury. The album, officially released on November 2, 2004, is a sometimes uplifting, often stark portrayal of life and love through Paynes eyes. The sounds range from power pop bounce to folk rock sparseness.

Highlights abound on Jesse Paynes 14 song debut record. Opening track "Grace" has what I call a slo-fi intro, but it quickly gets into a groove with some punk riffs and a catchy chorus. The lyrics also touch on a common theme for the album, that of spirituality: Don't mention the fact that you, depend on grace. Next up is "Take Me", an uber-catchy power pop ditty and my favorite song here. With quirky lyrics, powerful riffs, and a honey-to-the-palate chorus, this song alone is reason enough to buy the album. It reminds me of another rock-with-a- twang Birmingham band, Stateside. Third track "Rebel" is also a major highlight. This ballad has a plaintive, piano-and-harmonica laden intro and a fantastic chorus. The almost-marching rhythm reminds me of a Tom Petty song, as do the vocals and lyrics. Another high point is track #5 "Blue Jean Jacket". Combining punk with roadhouse blues, this song is a fun, rollicking rock stomp. Capping off the first half of the album is "Hum", which echoes of Stateside again with it's Stonesy riffs and clingy chorus.

The second half of this disc tends to be more quiet and introspective, yet there are still some standout songs. The most upbeat of these is "Train To Austin". Again sounding like Tom Petty, Payne relies on lyrical repetition to reinforce the point and keep the hooks sharp. He also re-echoes the theme of spirituality, noting that "You've watched me chase religion like a long lost dream". The apex of the slower songs is track #10 "Uniform". It's so catchy that the entire song seems like one giant hook. The singing is also inspired, causing the lyrics to pull you in and tug at your heartstrings. Track #12 "Don't Go Home" is a ballad about a new relationships struggles. Payne sounds a bit like Jakob Dylan here, and the mournful harmonica-playing is a nice touch. The final track "Down To The Bar" is also a highlight, if just for the spiritual references and its expression of absolute despair: A wedding bands lost its meaning / Jesus, He's died for nothing / Cause were all hypocrites including me.

Humming The Tunes Of Luxury is an outstanding debut album. Despite a bit too much reliance on lyrical repetition and obscurance, the songs display complexity and maturity. Born in the tradition of singer-songwriters like Dylan, Petty, & Springsteen, Jesse Payne displays clear influences yet has a sound all his own. The hooks, the riffs, the vocals, the lyrics - all the ingredients for success are there. To learn more, go to www.jessepayneonline.com. You can also purchase Humming The Tunes Of Luxury through The Buzzs Featured CDs section. Whether you prefer freewheeling rock tunes or contemplative ballads, the music of Jesse Payne will bring you pleasure.

(photos courtesy of Jesse Payne Online)

 

 

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