As I am always on the search for new artists/music, it’s always fascinating to me to discover that this “new” artist has actually been around forever and I’m just now managing to find them. Why didn’t somebody/anybody tell me about this/these cat/cats. This is absolutely the case for today’s review. With that in mind, I give you Chris Whitley “Living with the Law”. This, his debut album was released in 1991. Chris had a 25 year career, recorded 17 albums, then passed from this plane in 2005. All without me hearing a blip about it. The LP consists on 12 “named” songs and 1 “unnamed” one. Granted the unnamed tune is less than a minute in length but it’s still there. Mr Google describes him as blues, blues-rock, I would throw in delta, restless, americana, singer/songwriter. The first thing you notice is the rather quirky vocals, this may take some “getting used to” for some listeners. I found his vocal stylings interesting, haunting, emotive, and after listening a few times, very much in sync with his playing and song writing style. This is definitely a “like it more as you listen more” kind of work.
We start the album off with a short, slide on a resonator lick, then crank right into Living with the Law, an upbeat driver of a song that gets the album flowing and flow it does from the opening 20 second lick to the closing unnamed lick after the final song. Chris’s band consists of the following:
Chris Whitley – vocals, national guitar, acoustic, electric and bass guitars Ronald Jones – drums Daryl Johnson – bass guitar Bill Dillon – guitar, pedal steel Malcolm Burn – keyboards
Next up, Big Sky Country, probably the most “pop” tune of the set, great hook, very singable. Kick the Stones has a bit of a Fleetwood Mac guitar feel to it, catchy rhythm. Slow down somewhat with Make the Dirt Stick, really nice acoustic slide work. Speaking of nice acoustic work, Phone Call from Leavenworth features Chris alone with his guitar, excellent fingerpicking and slide work. The melancholy themes of Look What Love has Done, again with excellent fingerpicking from Mr Whitley. We finish with a straight ahead rocker, Bordertown, “..just a gateway to the other side…”. I will be looking further into Chris Whitley’s catalog as this album very much piqued my interest. Chris’s songwriting, lyrics are such that they make you want to delve deeper, what is the true message here. A most enjoyable ride here, I apologize Chris that it took me so long to find you.
