Chris Blake - Wave
2008, Cumulonimbus Records
Los Angeles' Chris Blake just might be the next big thing. Hearing the songs on his second CD, Wave, is like hearing songs you know you heard once long ago; They're familiar to memory, new to the ear, and most welcome in their melancholy reverie.
Let's skip the preliminaries and talk about Mean It Now, which should sell several million downloads or singles or whatever else you can burn it on to. This is the single most sadly beautiful song to come across my desk in 2008. It's that rare coming together of meaningful subject matter, a gorgeous melody and the perfect arrangement. This song which is destined to be licensed for half a dozen movies or TV shows over the next decade.
Now that we have that out of the way we can talk about the rest of Wave. Words like brilliant and genius and watershed come to mind. Chris Blake has created significant buzz in the blogosphere and it is easy to see (and hear) why. Party On The Last Iceberg is rock tune with a hip-hop beat that will stick in your head for days. This song has strong commercial potential and may do well as a crossover. Trains is a plaintive watercolor of a song painting one of life's little moments that often pass without much thought. The chorus here soars like the realization contained within the song, setting up yet another song that you're likely to hear licensed out in the next year.
Mean carries a primal melancholy air that is underscored by the relentless see-saw guitar part. All of this leads up to How Journey Saved My Life, a tongue-in-cheek homage to a beneficial side-effect of the pop titans. Other highlights include Lullaby, Life On Land (I Jettisoned), Someone Else and The Race.
Chris Blake is a rare talent. His songwriting skills are envious: he is as lyrically adept as he is musically brilliant. Wave is the sort of album you want to take a sick day on Friday for so you can stay home and listen to it all weekend. No doubt about this being a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc. Get in on the ground floor folks, because this star is going to fly high.
2008, Cumulonimbus Records
Los Angeles' Chris Blake just might be the next big thing. Hearing the songs on his second CD, Wave, is like hearing songs you know you heard once long ago; They're familiar to memory, new to the ear, and most welcome in their melancholy reverie.
Let's skip the preliminaries and talk about Mean It Now, which should sell several million downloads or singles or whatever else you can burn it on to. This is the single most sadly beautiful song to come across my desk in 2008. It's that rare coming together of meaningful subject matter, a gorgeous melody and the perfect arrangement. This song which is destined to be licensed for half a dozen movies or TV shows over the next decade.
Now that we have that out of the way we can talk about the rest of Wave. Words like brilliant and genius and watershed come to mind. Chris Blake has created significant buzz in the blogosphere and it is easy to see (and hear) why. Party On The Last Iceberg is rock tune with a hip-hop beat that will stick in your head for days. This song has strong commercial potential and may do well as a crossover. Trains is a plaintive watercolor of a song painting one of life's little moments that often pass without much thought. The chorus here soars like the realization contained within the song, setting up yet another song that you're likely to hear licensed out in the next year.
Mean carries a primal melancholy air that is underscored by the relentless see-saw guitar part. All of this leads up to How Journey Saved My Life, a tongue-in-cheek homage to a beneficial side-effect of the pop titans. Other highlights include Lullaby, Life On Land (I Jettisoned), Someone Else and The Race.
Chris Blake is a rare talent. His songwriting skills are envious: he is as lyrically adept as he is musically brilliant. Wave is the sort of album you want to take a sick day on Friday for so you can stay home and listen to it all weekend. No doubt about this being a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc. Get in on the ground floor folks, because this star is going to fly high.
Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Chris Blake at www.myspace.com/chrisblakemusic. You can purchase a copy of Wave at www.cdbaby.com/cd/chrisblake2.
You can learn more about Chris Blake at www.myspace.com/chrisblakemusic. You can purchase a copy of Wave at www.cdbaby.com/cd/chrisblake2.
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5 comments:
The next big thing? I doubt it. And I hope not because he's got a great thing going right now. I would hate to see him try to be something he's not.
I'm so glad he's getting the attention he deserves. I love his CD. Every song is different but great and mostly heartfelt.
great review. i first came across cchris blake through a video he put on youtube. i downloaded that song. then i downloaded another. then another... i should of just bought the whole album off the bat. the songs sneak up on you. every time i think it's pretty good but after a few listens it really takes hold.
hear hear!
You forgot to say super awesome.
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