Chris Smither More From the Levee

Chris Smither
More From the Levee
Signature Sounds

This new recording from the noted singer-songwriter Chris Smither brings forth ten new tracks that produced the 2014 release "Still on the Levee." As I wrote reviewing that earlier recording," Smither is a singer-songwriter whose performances and songs have a Dylanesque flavor as well as deep blues roots in his direct finger style guitar playing. As Charlie Hunter, his former co-manager observes, Smither's guitar style is 1/3 Mississippi John Hurt, 1/3 Lightnin' Hopkins and 1/3 himself." His swirling guitar playing and feet stomping is combined with Billy Conway's drums and percussion on this album. Guests, including Dana Colley on baritone sax and the late Allen Toussaint on piano, are heard on selected tracks.

Smither's gravelly vocals have a restrained world-weary quality that adds to the appeal as he sings his colorful lyrics that have such haunting lines such as "Help me get these pieces together, Make it so the seams don't seem to show, …" from "Confirmation." Another example is "Turn off that radio, It's like I am talking to myself." from "Drive You Home Again." Colley's low volume baritone lends to the sober background on this track. Jimmy Fitting on harmonica, Goody on piano, and Anita Subanin on background vocals join the melancholy feel of "I Am the Ride." With its street busker tempo, "What I Do" comes off as somewhat cheerful with its invocation of second lines and beads and rice. Allen Toussaint's piano adds a light, sophisticated feel to the part talking blues, "Let It Go."

With Smither's way with words, his enervated sounding vocals, and the deft, but restrained, accompaniment, the ten new Smither tracks on this album further showcase this remarkable singer-songwriter.

I received my review copy from a publicist. For an example of his music (but not on this recording) here is Chris Smither's rendition of "Sitting on Top of the World."

Chris Smither Is Still On The Levee

“Still on the Levee” (Homunculus Music/Mighty Albert) is a double disc retrospective of Chris Smither’s 50 odd year career in new June 2013 recordings. Smither is a singer-songwriter whose performances and songs have a Dylanesque flavor as well as deep blues roots in his direct finger style guitar playing. As Charlie Hunter, his former co-manager observes, Smither’s guitar style is 1/3 Mississippi John Hurt, 1/3 Lightnin’ Hopkins and 1/3 himself.

The two CDs cover a pretty wide range of songs by Smither and display his position as a significant composer and lyricist. There is the wistfulness of "Song of Susan" to a fine original blues "Another Way To Find You" that evokes Robert Johnson riffs with a heartfelt vocal and strong harmonica backing. Allen Toussaint adds his piano to "Train Home" that lends a slightly different flavor behind Smither's vocal as he waits for a train to take him home.

Smither's gravelly vocals have a restrained quality that adds to the appeal. "Lola" is a bluesy folk number with exceptional lyrics and restrained rollicking piano backing. "Shillin' For the Blues,” which features members of Morphine, has interesting backing including softly recorded baritone sax by Dana Colley. Loudon Wainwright III joins Smithers on the lively "What They Say."

With his world weary vocals and the deft, but restrained, accompaniment, it is no wonder that Smither's "Can't Shake These Blues" Produced by David Goodrich (who plays on much of this), “Still on the Levee” is a recording that showcases this remarkable singer-songwriter as he considers some of his favorite and most memorable songs.

I received this from a publicist. Here he performs in concert "Love You Like a Man."