The collection was solely produced by Patton and features five solo writing credits, as well as six co-writes. Backing Patton up instrumentally on this project were Jerry Abrams on bass guitar, Chip Bricker on piano, Giovanni Carnuccio on drums and percussion, Lloyd Maines on pedal & lap steel, electric guitar, dobro, mandolin, and acoustic guitar, Heather Stalling on fiddle, and harmony vocals by Dan Tyminski (on "Shove"), and fellow Texas artists Kensie Coppen and Jamie Lin Wilson.
Kicking off the album is the Bluegrass number "Shove" and it sets the tone for the rest of the songs. Grief, happiness, loneliness, and every other emotion in between is felt within the lyrics. The title track languishes in Patton's plaintive vocals, "...A hawk flew from my blind side and for a moment it was us...I was feeling winded, he was waiting on a gust...I stayed the course, he flew right, into the field, into the dusk...Still I know what it's like to fly alone..."
The absolute standout of the collection is the melancholy story song "Round Mountain." It follows the life of a woman who married too young and fell into another man's arms, abandoning her family. The character seems to have no remorse for her behavior, "...I won't stay be be ashamed of the things I know I've done..." The song conjures up images of 1800's Appalachia with Patton's matter-of-fact heartbreaking narrative and the ominous fiddle arrangement.
On the barroom weeper "I've Got One Waiting," the singer seems to have given up on love and has turned to aged beverages for answers. Meanwhile, the lovely pedal steel driven "Devil's Hand" sounds like it could be the sequel to "Round Mountain." "Gold Standard" sounds like it came right out of the 1960's with its lavish fiddle and steel. The only song not written by Patton, Kelley Mickwee and Owen Temple capture the rise and fall of the "perfect" couple.
Another stellar track is "This Road To You," a mid-tempo traveling song written by Patton and Micky Braun. Everything about this song is perfect, from the melody to the numerous geographical references. Mandolin and fiddle wrap around Patton's voice, "...This road to you is winding, steep, and cold...this road to you made of concrete, gray, and gold..."
Patton has a knack for sorrowful yet gorgeous lyrics and two of the saddest songs are "Red Bandana Blue," a tribute to fallen local music hero, Kent Finlay, and "Fourteen Years." The latter about Patton's sister will bring tears & choked back emotions. It's a beautiful piano driven tune and is perfect for closing out the album, albeit heavy hearted.
The album cover is Patton's own photo, the twisted trees and prairie grasses a snapshot of the scenes portrayed in the songs on this stunning album. "What It's Like To Fly Alone" is available now on CD, vinyl, and digital.
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