After spending several years as a member of the pop-rock outfit The Right Coast, Patrick Hatt took his talents to folk-town and started anew as Like Wild. In June 2010, Like Wild released their debut, self-titled four-song EP. Attempting his best Bob Dylan meets Nick Drake, Hatt croons and plucks through four country-infused tracks that will leave the listener tapping along to every beat.

Clocking in at a mere eleven-minutes, Like Wild is most certainly a departure from the cavity-inducing pop-rock tunes Hatt’s former band was releasing. Instead, Hatt tackles such subjects as love, politics, and growing older— heavy subjects for a musician of only twenty-two years of age. The EP kicks off with the quick ditty “Somthin’ Kinda Strange” where Hatt sings “I would be the tallest tree / Just so you could look at me / Whenever you’re feeling down,” over a simple acoustic guitar. “Somethin’ Kinda Strange” would not be found out of place as a The Tallest Man On Earth b-side. Hatt’s folksy vocals compliment the acoustic guitars perfectly throughout the EP.  

“Truth Resides” follows with a distinctly Nashville-feel where Hatt employs a slide guitar and Dylan-esque, politically-inspired lyrics; “We’re a nation of slaves / While the wealthy get paid” Hatt condemns passionately. “For Yourself,” which follows “Truth Resides”, is a laid-back, slow-paced track which would perfectly accompany a cup of coffee on a warm, summer morning while sitting on your porch watching the dew on the grass dry up. Hatt’s youthful innocence keeps the song grounded while an impeccably placed electric guitar-solo accents the song seamlessly.

Like Wild concludes with the impressive “Can You Hear?,” by far the catchiest song on the EP. Once again Hatt proves that one does not need to be in a pop-rock band to craft catchy songs. “Can You Hear?” is an intelligent and sophisticated closer that bounces along peacefully. Residing in Amish country, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Hatt is only a two-hour drive from Philadelphia but still firmly in the grasps of rural America. Like Wild handles complicated social issues, often heard discussed in urban cafes, with a simple country style. With a debut like this, one will be sure to hear from Hatt again soon. He still has a lot to say.

***/*****

*This review was composed by Mike Meeze