aidan7737
11-21-2008, 06:07 AM
Chris Rea, the guitar, the voice...
Chris has been a long time favourite artist of mine. I understand he's probably a bit more prominent in the European part of the world, just a quick post to see if there are any other gear pagers who get into his exquisite, tasteful guitar playing (slide and otherwise), unique gravelly voice and well constructed songs.
Chris has extra significance for me as whenever I listen to his music it reminds me of the Western Australian summers and conditions and my dear father who would play the "Road to Hell" tapes in the car when I was a kid. A unique theme that reoccurs in Chris' music is the concept of the solitary drive...just a man, a car, and a road...and Western Australia is laid out as flat and large as any Texan commute...great background for enjoying a bit of Chris Rea's music.
Glad I'm still able to spin Chris Rea tracks with the old man over a cold beer as an "adult" myself.
For me Chris is very much in the "Knopfleresque" camp but obviously with his own distinct touch and style both on the guitar and vocally...
From the the country twang meets pure evil slide solos of Road to Hell, to the uplifting versions of "I Can Hear Your Heart Beat" (disco/rock anyone?) and "Let's Dance", the stoic but rocking social comment that is "Texas", the introspective fleeting reminisce of "Windy Town" (such a moving piece - not to mention the tones and playing), the made-for-night-time-out-of-city-highway "Driving home for Christmas"... and so many more... recent and much loved faves alike...
I can almost feel the cooling summer night, round tables, bud lights and "significant other" in "On the Beach"...
...watch me walkin'...
Discuss!
Chris has been a long time favourite artist of mine. I understand he's probably a bit more prominent in the European part of the world, just a quick post to see if there are any other gear pagers who get into his exquisite, tasteful guitar playing (slide and otherwise), unique gravelly voice and well constructed songs.
Chris has extra significance for me as whenever I listen to his music it reminds me of the Western Australian summers and conditions and my dear father who would play the "Road to Hell" tapes in the car when I was a kid. A unique theme that reoccurs in Chris' music is the concept of the solitary drive...just a man, a car, and a road...and Western Australia is laid out as flat and large as any Texan commute...great background for enjoying a bit of Chris Rea's music.
Glad I'm still able to spin Chris Rea tracks with the old man over a cold beer as an "adult" myself.
For me Chris is very much in the "Knopfleresque" camp but obviously with his own distinct touch and style both on the guitar and vocally...
From the the country twang meets pure evil slide solos of Road to Hell, to the uplifting versions of "I Can Hear Your Heart Beat" (disco/rock anyone?) and "Let's Dance", the stoic but rocking social comment that is "Texas", the introspective fleeting reminisce of "Windy Town" (such a moving piece - not to mention the tones and playing), the made-for-night-time-out-of-city-highway "Driving home for Christmas"... and so many more... recent and much loved faves alike...
I can almost feel the cooling summer night, round tables, bud lights and "significant other" in "On the Beach"...
...watch me walkin'...
Discuss!