Album Notes

Sci-Fi Guy is Louisville singer-songwriter R. Scot Payne's second release. The album, released independently in the Fall of 2003, is a rocking, impressive follow-up to Payne's 2001 debut collection, Completely Blue, which received critical praise and established Payne's credibility as a solid songwriter. With his second album, Payne pushes the pulse forward and takes an edgier approach to his pop-based rock with hard-hitting guitars, a driving rhythm section and the occasional raucous, runaway sax solo, creating a well-crafted production punctuated with aphoristic lyrics.

"Truly among the grandest collections of power pop to bubble up all year.
The nucleus of the disc is classic pop that suggests the Beatles or Badfinger, but mixed in are elements of Neil Young, U2 and Zeppelin as well.
Fans of more contemporary hard-popsters like Matthew Sweet, XTC, Tommy Keene or Francis Dunnery will also find plenty to love."
Cary B. Willis, Louisville Magazine Nov 2003

"Don't let the title fool you. Sci-Fi Guy may imply a certain amount of Star Trek headiness, but Payne has no problems going to a (man's) final frontier: the dark places of the heart. His poetic lyrics and non-formulaic songwriting make Sci-Fi Guy a solid enjoyable effort.
Payne's voice bring to mind a twang-less James McMurtry and his music calls to mind later, more pensive REM. Payne has a penchant for mining life's complexities with just a few words. A compelling listen."
Kory Wilcoxson, Louisville Music News Dec 2003