Chris Hickey

Chris Hickey makes beautiful lyrically rich, wonderfully simple music. I had never heard of him before this morning, he sent me an email it said:

Lewis

I recently wrote and recorded a song, each day, for about three weeks. The result is “Razzmatazz” – 16 songs, just vocal & guitar, recorded in my bedroom on a hand-held voice recorder. The record is available now on my website and will be widely available in September.

Here’s a link to listen to or download “Kerouac” from the new CD:

http://chrishickey.net/jack-kerouac.htm

Thanks! – Chris Hickey

Chris Hickey has three previous solo records, was a member of the bands “Uma” and “Show of Hands”, and has appeared on records by Joe Henry, Michael Penn, Indigo Girls, and more.

I replied to his email:

Chris

I woke up late this morning not normal for me. I opened my email and found an email from you talking about your new album. I wondered how you got my email, I l almost deleted it, I’m so busy these days, no time for unsolicited email. But I didn’t.

I clicked the link in your email to listen to your song titled “Kerouac”. I must have had it running in two ways for a bit, overlapping vocals, I really couldn’t understand the song the words were all jumbled. But instead of bagging the whole thing and going on with my morning cup of coffee, I tried again, this time I was successful. I listened to the song, I was drawn in by the phrases, the mellow and spacious nature of the tunes, the simplicity, and the sweet yet thought provoking lyrics, “Good times love and and fun frolic, Buddhist loving alcoholic”, now that is a fine bit of poetry/songwriting. I too am so very grateful for Jack opening the door to the East for us Westerners. I enjoy reading about Eastern religion but really admire J. Krishnamutri’s wise words which I think say it best for me, “Follow no Dogma, No Religion nor Guru”, “Truth is a Pathless Land” .

Next I went to your MySpace and listened to Kitchen and Lay Your Body Down, after one listen I then promptly bought your album “Razzmatazz”.

All I can say is, I hear you. As I was listening to your music I scrolled down through your comments and saw some from your daughter, I have a daughter too, her comments really hit home. I am going through a divorce after 15 years of marriage and really have a tough time when it comes to my kids, that damn attachment thing you know, seems like I am pretty good about all the other attachments issues but with my kids its different, so much harder then all the rest.

Anyway sorry to go on and on about non music related stuff, are you touring, I shoot concert photography and would love to photograph you. Would it be OK to embed your videos and a brief write up on my website?

I want everyone that have the ears to hear to hear your music, I feel your music is unique, heartfelt and authentic.

Take care and thanks for the email and beautiful music.

Lewis

Chris emailed me back a few minutes later and said I could embed his video and do a brief review of his album, this is what I am doing now. Check out Chris’s music out and if you like what you hear, buy his latest album, it’ll be the best $5.00 you very spent!

Here are a couple videos of Chris’s videos:

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This entry was posted on Sunday, August 9th, 2009 at 9:30 pm. It is filed under New Music Review and tagged with Chris Hickey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.