Drayton Farley is a relative newcomer at least when it comes to recording albums. The Alabama songwriter has released a couple full-length albums and some singles. He definitely draws some comparisons to another Alabama songwriter: Jason Isbell. The comparison is not only found in the vocal tone but also in the way that Farley crafts evocative songs with lyrics that tell vivid stories.
Farley’s new album Twenty on High was produced by Sadler Vaden and recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville. The ten songs on the album are further evidence of his ability to create memorable songs that make you feel something.
You don’t need to hear much of the album to know that Farley has a way of painting pictures with his words. At the beginning of “Stop the Clock”, he sings about his childhood home being a single wide where they ate what dad grew or killed. The melody is provided by the guitar and piano, and both the notes and the words are given plenty of room to breathe. It’s a beautiful song that will make you wish you could create something half as good.
An introspective mood runs through the album, and Farley can hit you right between the eyes with his lyrics that are usually thought-provoking and sometimes filled with regret. At the beginning of “Wasted Youth”, he sings. “Wasted my youth on trying to grow up. Wasted my future, never showed up.” The acoustic guitar is at the forefront of the song while the pedal steel in the background provides a plaintive sound that matches perfectly with the lyrics.
The self-examination continues in “Something Wrong (in My Head)”. It’s the sort of examination that is probably more widespread than anyone imagines. Over a soulful melody, he acknowledges many of the good things and wonders why he ever feels blue.
Something about “Devil’s in NOLA” is reminiscent of Kris Kristofferson, and it’s not just in the fact that he references a silver-tongued person. It’s mostly in the cadence of the vocals and the pace of the song that lends itself to telling a story. The melody is layered with some soulful and even funky sounds as well as a fiddle that only adds to the danceable quality of the song.
Twenty on High by Drayton Farley is a masterclass in songwriting. He paints vivid pictures and bares his soul with lyrics that range from deeply introspective to inspirational like a pep talk. He also does a tremendous job of matching the sound of a song with the mood of the story. The album is a good indicator that you can expect more albums like this from him in the future.
