As is the case with a good number of artists in my music library, it was my old man who first introduced me to Chris Smither. He is a career musician; one of those guys who never really got huge but has enjoyed relative success for the greater part of 30 years. His first album came out in 1970.
Some of his stuff isn’t really up my alley. But these two songs are really fantastic, and I’ve listened to each approximately 64,761 times. Somewhere around there. I love the sound of Chris Smither pickin’ like he does on these tracks. Sounds like the feeling you get at the end of a busy night busing tables at Powderhounds on Killington, when you suddenly catch your breath and look around the restaurant to see that it’s now quiet and slowed down and emptying, and there’s nothing left to do but have the bartender put on some good music– something like Chris Smither or Lyle Lovett– and talk and laugh and soak in the glow of the blond wood walls and the cool mountain air drifting in from the propped open doors as you clean up and close shop for the night.
“Cave Man” by Chris Smither (from Small Revelations)
“Get A Better One” by Chris Smither (from Drive You Home Again)
I’ve heard the lyrics to “Get A Better One” described as “cheesy,” but I love them.
Chris has a new album out, and talked to NPR about it the other day.
Photo by flickr user kscherer11
