Sometimes I think Dan Auerbach has the Midas Touch. From The Black Keys to Radio Moscow, everything Dan is involved in is an instant classic in the Autopsy IV household, and Patrick Sweany is no different. Patrick is a blues guitarist from Massillon, Ohio, who first gained prominence on the festival circuit as an acoustic blues guitarist back in the late 90’s. However, a lot has changed since then. Sure, Patrick is, at his core, still a blues guitarist, but it’s the soul and 50’s-era rock and roll elements he has added since signing with Nine Mile Records that really set Patrick apart from the rest of the pack.

Every Hour Is A Dollar Gone, released in June 2007, is Patrick’s follow-up to his 2006 Nine Mile debut, C’mon C’mere. It was produced by Dan Auerbach and Paul Hamman, who was also responsible for Grand Funk Railroad and James Gang classics. Largely recorded live, the cd has that retro-blues rock sound that Black Keys fans know and love, but also features songs that would more easily fit under the umbrella of Motown soul, with the switch between styles as easy for the listener as it appears to be for Patrick.

To put it simply, this cd rocks and will be the first entry on my 2008 Essential Listening list.

Patrick Sweany - Be Your Man
Patrick Sweany - After Awhile
Patrick Sweany - Wednesday Night

Patrick Sweany’s Official Site, Patrick Sweany on myspace, Buy Every Hour Is A Dollar Gone