New 2009 Album From Chris Smither

CD “Time Stands Still” Is Rootsy Performance From Blues Perennial

Oct 7, 2009

Chris Smither's new album for 2009, "Time Stands Still," is well worth the three year wait. The folk blues master continues to perform at the height of his powers.

Chris Smither has released his first album in three years, “Time Stands Still.” On this new CD, Smither shows off his flair for wry songwriting, along with amazing finger style guitar work as he shows us the heart of acoustic Blues.

Chris Smither‘s “Time Stands Still” Example of Folk Blues Perfection

Chris Smither has been flying under the musical radar for his entire 40 plus year career. It is a shame that this amazing musician has remained so anonymous. With his trademark percussive foot tapping, smoky voice, and virtuosic finger picking, Chris Smither is a secret gem that should be plucked by all fans of Folk and Blues Music.

On “Time Stands Still,” Smither takes his music down to the bare basics. On his website, Smither says, “This is the most stripped-down record I’ve made in a long time.” The only performers on the album are Smither, producer/ guitarist Goody Goodrich, and drummer Zak Trojano. The three player together at a concert in the Netherlands, and it sounded so good that Smither decided to do the whole album like that.

What Smither created is a near perfect example of Americana, performed with a driving beat (mostly Smither’s foot) and hints of electric guitar, just enough to keep the album modern. Smither is one of the last masters of the Piedmont Fingerstyle, and the intricate melodies of the style shine against the backdrop of his steady rhythms on “Time Stands Still.”

“Surprise, Surprise,” “Don’t Call Me Stranger,” Are the Best Downloadable Songs on “Times Stands Still”

Reminiscent of his song “Origin of Species,” off of Smither’s 2006 album Leave the Light On, “Surprise, Surprise” is a witty take on current events, this time the economic recession. The lyrics creates a sweet schadenfreude as Smither growls about the rich folk wondering where all their money has gone.

“Don’t Call Me Stranger,” on the other hand, is an earthy come on, what Smither refers to “as a straight up seduction song.” Behind his electric guitar (a rarity for him), Smither calls for his woman to come out and take a chance with him, that he’s not a stranger, but just like her.

Chris Smither, Veteran of the 60’s Folk Scene, Keeps the Folk Blues Alive

While most of the folkies headed to Greenwich Village in the 60s’, a young Chris Smither instead went to the budding folk scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Powered by the local college crowds, Smither became a local celebrity by the end of the decade with his folk blues stylings.

In 1972, a young member of the Cambridge/ Boston scene, Bonnie Raitt, covered Smither’s song “Love You Like a Man.” Raitt would go on to cover a few of Smither’s songs, the revenues of which would support him while dealing with alcohol abuse, according to the music site CMT .

Even though Chris Smither’s career has spanned five decades, he continues to be at the height of his powers. There is very little to criticize on “Time Stands Still,” although in some places his voice made the lyrics hard to understand. A minor point, and one that is sure to be overlooked when listening to this earthy, mellow delivery from one of the great neglected bluesmen.

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