Are You Lonely Like Me?
Self-Released, 2026
8/10
Listen to Are You Lonely Like Me?
The singer and guitarist Clark Paterson is joined by a large cast for 11 songs that share his dark humor, heartbreak and loss via an authentic and detailed vision.
“If I Didn’t Laugh” opens the listen with Mark Cline Bates’ warm piano alongside Paterson’s distinct voice and warm guitar in the folk-rock delivery, and “It’s My Liver” follows with John Mctigue III’s skilled drums amid Paul Niehaus’ aching pedal steel via the humorous tale.
Moving into the middle, “It’s My Last Hundred Bucks” carries a hint of mystery amid the ominous backdrop and mesmerizing rhythm section, while “Put Me On A Train” invites singing-along, as Luella Matthews’ pretty backing vocals add much to the album highlight.
Arriving late, “Farmhand” offers warm acoustic guitar and cozy bass, as Paterson’s atypical vocals tell a descriptive story, and “There Is A Light” exits with a very fun take on The Smiths’ classic in a rootsy sort of way.
Paterson has clearly lived a lot of hard years, and his observations about illness, fatherhood recovery and reinvention blends folk, country, soul and punk into a really intriguing body of work.
Travels well with: Sean Scott White- Days Are Long; Adam Brodsky- American Epitaph