I WAS SO FOND OF YOU

Earthtones and gravel. LaGlace, Alberta's Matt Patershuk has a voice as big as radio, a collection of well written, earnest and honest original songs, and a comfortably commanding presence on stage... Meet the new Boss... - The Pincher Creek Voice??I Was So Fond of You' is Matt's second record, and like his debut, the Western Canadian Music Awards nominated 'Outside The Lights of Town', Patershuk tapped Juno award winning producer Steve Dawson to guide it to completion at his Henhouse studio in Nashville. The result is one of the most honest Canadian country albums to ever see the light of day. ??Matt Patershuk's unaffected singing belongs to a different time and reflects a reserve and unspoken toughness that is rarely heard today. The songs on 'I Was So Fond of You' are peppered with the kind of humanity that you can hear in Willie Nelson's best work and reflect a subdued irony that wouldn't be out of place in a John Prine tune. ??The emotional heart of 'I Was So Fond of You' centres around two songs, 'Harviestown' and the title track that share Patershuk's struggle to make sense of the tragic death of his sister, Clare who was killed by a drunk driver in June 2013. 'Harviestown' is as bare and painful a reflection about the finality of death as has ever been written, and you'd have to be made of pretty stern stuff not to tear up while listening to Matt trying to come to terms with his loss on 'I Was So Fond of You.' ??Like every project Steve Dawson is involved with, I Was So Fond of You' features brilliant instrumental performances that add the perfect touch to every track. To capture the immediacy of Patershuk's songs, Dawson recorded live off the floor. Musicians formed a huddle around Matt, playing quietly to each other without headphones, so that every note could be heard and picked up on. It's easy to hear the chemistry created by Dawson and Mike Bub (bass, grammy winning member of the Del McCoury Band) Gary Craig (Juno winning drummer - Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Anne Murray, Bruce Cockburn) and Fats Kaplin (fiddle, banjo, accordion - Jack White, Beck, Tom Russel, Mark Knopfler) as they forged the perfect accompaniment to Patershuk's songs. Only Ana Egge's gorgeous back-up vocals were added after the sessions. ??'I Was So Fond of You' is everything that a good country record should be. With its simply expressed stories of real life, beautifully played and truthfully sung, it is the most authentic music you will hear anywhere this year.??1. Back Against the Wall 2. Prettiest Ones 3. Smoke a Little Cigarette 4. Harviestown 5. I Was So Fond of You 6. Burnin' the Candle at Both Ends 7. Little Guitar 8. Pep the Cat Murdering Dog 9. Closer 10. Mean Coyotes 11. Tennessee Walker