Band : Chris Smither
Album Reviewed : Live as I’ll Ever Be.
Produced By : Hightone

In another recent victory (victory for ZIM!!!) for artists in the world of file sharing, I am happy to review Chris Smither, who I have only just learned of this very day from mp3s I ripped from the harddrive of a friend of mine. However, I can say that in a very short time I should own my very own Chris Smither album, acquired in such a manner as to ensure that Chris himself will enjoy some financial compensation from the acquisition. Further, if I should be so lucky as to be near an area where he might be playing live, you can be sure I’ll go to see him. Let it be known, file SHARING (not stealing, idiots) supports the artist.

Chris Smither is a most excellent blues/folk acoustic musician, and for the most part the songs I’ve heard are pretty much just him and a guitar, and that’s all you’d want. Excellent, precise finger picking enjoying a classic southern US folk blues sound is his style, reminiscent of artists like Nick Drake or pre-electric Dylan (although with a smoother style). The songs I’ve heard, namely Winsome Smile and No Love Today both display what I consider a mastery of folk lyrics, complex imagery hidden within a conversational, almost ‘fatherly advice’ kind of delivery, which immediately reminded me of the stories or lessons taught to me by slightly tipsy but well intentioned relatives, particularly regarding subjects they have intimate experience with.

Chris Smither apparently hails from New Orleans, where he began his musical career, the effects of which I think still are pretty clear in his music, although he moved up to Boston pretty early on, which I also believe has influenced his music, creating a folk sound vaguely reminiscent of both the Delta and New England, but this latter part may just be because the music reminds me of my father’s side of the family, which comes from that region. He has several albums out, although from what I’ve heard, I’d have to recommend ‘Live As I’ll Ever Be’, as his live music (even recorded and replayed) is a real treat. Plus most of the songs I’ve heard are from this album.

One thing I should warn about is that Smither is harsh medicine for a broken heart. In good blues folk tradition, more than one song deals with the unenviable position of losing someone you love, or merely being in a state of being unloved, and for those of us suffering from that kind of emotion, some of the lyrics seem a little too accurate, hitting close to home in a way that can overcome you emotionally, but at the same time the music is cleansing, the sort of thing you could laugh at through your tears.

Smither’s website is the Blue Guitar, http://smither.com/welcome.html, and I suggest you check it out. It also helpfully tells you where you can purchase his albums by state, although his live shows seem to be pretty much limited to New England right now.

In a completely unrelated event, I have just learned that Victor Wooten and Bela Fleck were BOTH playing in Eureka Springs last night and SOMEONE (PAULA !!!!) knew but failed to inform me. The poundings will commence in short order.