Allen's latest work, ACETATE, has arrived. Produced by Don Dixon (Smithereens, R.E.M., Counting Crows), it commences with the Replacements-like anti-anthem "Love Not Born" and then proceeds to show just how much Allen has grown as a songwriter... Said Dixon to the Plain Dealer about ACETATE, "Chris Allen is the most underrated songwriter in the country..." Read the entire album overview here.
Chris Allen-ACETATE (4 out of 5 stars)
Former front-man for alt-country band Rosavelt, Chris Allen emerges with his third solo album as a highly skilled songwriter and distinctive vocalist. He mastered the difficult task of merging memorable melodies and thoughtful lyrics that often read like short-three minute novels. Typical is I Don't Live Here Anymore, a mid-tempo yarn full of angst and attitude with an easy-going rhythm that has you humming along to the strident lyrics.
There's a raspy edge to The Man Who Shook the World whilst Boy Meets Girl is a bittersweet ballad that again easily infiltrates your senses and begs to be heard again and again. That's very much true of so many of these cleverly written tunes that loosely straddle the American and alt.country genres.
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