Album Review
Deep Dive into Jeff Christie’s “Here & Now”: Lyrical Exploration and Emotional Resonance
Jeff Christie’s upcoming album Here & Now offers a tapestry of songs that delve deep into the human experience, blending classic rock sensibilities with reflective, often poignant lyrics. Three standout tracks, “One in a Million,” “Crash and Burn” and “Inside Looking Out,” exemplify Christie’s knack for storytelling and his ability to evoke a range of emotions through his music.
“One in a Million,” the first single from the album, is a lyrical exploration of individuality, self-awareness, and the often harsh realities of life. The song is reflective and philosophical, with Christie delving into the complexities of standing out in a world that often pushes people towards conformity.
“One in a Million” is a profound exploration of the human desire for uniqueness, tempered by the realities of life’s challenges. Jeff Christie’s lyrics are both aspirational and cautionary, encouraging listeners to strive for greatness while remaining mindful of the pitfalls that can accompany such a pursuit. The song, with its reflective tone and poetic lyricism, stands as a highlight of *Here & Now*, offering a deep and resonant message that will speak to listeners who have ever grappled with the desire to be extraordinary in an ordinary world.
“Crash and Burn” is a cautionary tale wrapped in a classic rock melody, resonating with themes of ambition, hubris, and the inevitable fall that can accompany unchecked desires. The song’s lyrics caution against the dangers of moving too fast and reaching too high without the necessary wisdom or patience: “You wanna touch the rising sun, you wanna be the only one, but you’ll just have to wait your turn, or else you’re gonna crash and burn.”
https://hypeddit.com/herenow/jeffchristie
The verses carry a sense of urgency, urging restraint and self-awareness in a world that often glorifies speed and success at any cost. Christie’s lyrics, “Travelling at the speed of light won’t bring the gift of second sight,” serve as a stark reminder that foresight and patience are invaluable, and that recklessness can lead to downfall. Musically, the track is driven by a strong, steady rhythm that mirrors the relentless pace of modern life, creating a sense of inevitability as it builds toward the powerful chorus.
“Inside Looking Out” shifts the tone to a more introspective and somber narrative, exploring the despair and resignation of someone trapped by their circumstances. The song opens with a haunting line: “Fifteen hundred miles is a long, long way, and I wish that I could be with you especially today.” Immediately, Christie establishes a sense of distance—both physical and emotional—setting the stage for a deeply personal exploration of regret and lost time.
The story unfolds from the perspective of someone imprisoned, both literally and metaphorically, reflecting on the passage of time and the crushing weight of missed opportunities. The refrain, “I’m on the inside looking out and don’t you know there’s nothing I can do,” captures the helplessness and futility felt by the narrator, making it one of the most emotionally charged lines on the album.
The song’s structure, with its repetitive refrain and the somber tone of the verses, enhances the feeling of being trapped, unable to change the course of one’s fate. The closing lines, “I don’t want you to waste your life the way I wasted mine,” add a poignant layer of regret, making “Inside Looking Out” not just a song about personal failure, but a warning to others to live with purpose and avoid the same mistakes.
Together, these tracks highlight the thematic depth of Here & Now. Jeff Christie, a masterful storyteller, uses his music to explore the complexities of life—its highs and lows, triumphs and regrets. “Crash and Burn” and “Inside Looking Out” are reflective pieces that resonate with listeners on a personal level, inviting them to ponder their own life choices and the consequences of their actions.
Here & Now is not just an album; it’s a conversation between Christie and his audience, one that spans decades of life experience and offers wisdom, solace, and a sense of shared humanity. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Christie’s music, these tracks promise to leave a lasting impression, echoing long after the final note has faded.
–Pete Burns
Stay updated! Click the Google News follow button for more news and updates.
Follow on Google News
Album Review
Gitkin unveils an afro-latin blues with sonic psychedelia in his recent Album “Golden Age”
The undisputed king of modern cumbia and master of genre fusion, Brian J. Gitkin, unveils his latest 10-track masterpiece, “Golden Age,” released under Wonderwheel Recordings. This wordless sonic adventure transcends borders, featuring a guest appearance by multi-instrumentalist and producer Assaf Spector, delivering thrilling depths of Afro-Latin, desert rock, and blues with heavy doses of psychedelia. Rooted in the musical heartbeat of New Orleans, “Golden Age” offers a mesmerizing exploration of culture, rhythm, and electric guitar brilliance. This primarily instrumental experience enthralls audiences from start to finish.
Gitkin, a New Orleans-based multi-instrumentalist, channels the rhythmic soul of the Crescent City through the hypnotic twang of his signature Silvertone guitar. The album commences with the dynamic title track, “High Noon,” setting the tone for its adventurous spirit, a far-reaching sound exploration. Fans are treated to a dazzling mix of intoxicating African and Latin American influences, spiced with the desert rock of Mali and the electrified chicha style of Peru.
The second track, “Cumbia-ya,” exudes celebration with its infectious beats as the album continues to break boundaries with “Delta Mystic,” along with “Iced Coffee” and “Go Time,” the 5th composition featuring the expertise of Simon Moushabeck on the keyboard and Washington Duke on drums, which seamlessly blends jazz, funk, and Afro-American Mardi Gras roots into a jubilant groove.
Subsequently, “The One,” the eighth track, presents a hypnotic blend of classic Sudanese influences, Tuareg-style guitars, and Black Sabbath-inspired heaviness. The composition is propelled forward by a Giorgio Moroder-esque bassline, combining ’70s disco energy with soulful guitar motifs, showcasing Gitkin’s versatility and fearless approach to creating fresh, boundary-pushing music. The album’s standout track, “Tall Oaks Drive,” takes listeners on a cosmic ride with its psychedelic sitar riffs and melodic cinematic atmosphere reminiscent of a vintage spy thriller. The album concludes with the soul-stirring final track, “Golden Age,” providing a sense of closure and triumph.
Throughout “Golden Age,” Gitkin’s guitar melodies convey stories without words, evoking emotions of contemplation, joy, and spiritual upliftment. His ability to weave together global sounds with New Orleans’ rich musical heritage establishes him as a visionary in the global music scene. This album is essential for fans seeking adventurous, deeply reflective, and genre-defying sonic experiences.
For more information about Gitkin, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Gitkin’s Album “Golden Age“ on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Gitkin | Instagram | Facebook |
Album Review
Never Heavy Releases “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light”
Steve Alex’s new album is Never Heavy Is One Full of Light. The former frontman of the nineties alt-rock band Four Star Riot has forgone excess production value for a simpler, much more acoustic touch. The album skews the distinctly modern with the excess throwback, something decidedly in for the last couple of years because of romanticization of the past.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/neverheavy
It could be the sixties, with the sexual revolution fashion and counter-cultural zeist, the seventies being the era of the singer-songwriter juggernauts, when the maestro of the excess confessional was sexiest person of the year. “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light” skews the latter excessively, literally starting with the title, down to the lyrics Alex has written for each track. The album also reflects the era because of the fact each song is a story, all thematically linked, with beginnings middles and ends. The other thing very much a welcome throwback is how personal Alex makes each song, feeling like a vulnerable creative expression.
What makes the album as a whole compete aside from nostalgia is the assuredness with which Alex performs each track. It’s unusual to feel like an artist has their own material on lock, there naturally being hits and misses throughout the course of their career, even their own, individual releases. I’m pleased to say Mr. Alex never falls into any traps on that front. The album is insanely consistent, maddeningly so. I would have liked to see a few cracks here and there, but all in all it’s a solid and entirely immersive achievement.
There’s a visceral quality to each of the tracks, something deeply gripping not just about the music itself but the stories it tells. Storytelling is the lost art of songwriting, much like poetry it’s about speaking to the heart in addition to the mind, conjuring immersive emotive experiences not easily dismissible even when it ends. A lot of this in Alex’s case likely points back to his experiences as rock frontman for Four Star Riot. It’s clear he’s carried this over to “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light,” once stating in an article with V13 Media: “The stage is a great leveler. It is the true yard-stick by which an artist can be measured.”
In the same article, Alex was quoted as saying, “The only reason to be in a rock band is to play live, period…The energy that is given during the show between the band and the audience is the most exhilarating thing I know. It’s fun as well as emotional, but I guess the best part is the danger. My Pseudo-dance and swagger has in the past, produced sprained ankles and bloody puncture wounds. Y’know, the possibility that at any moment the whole thing can fall apart, but that is the beauty of live performances, it’s here, then it’s gone and on to the next song.”
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/never-heavy/1492197159
He carries this mentality to the soft rock nature of his independent release. In many ways, the aforementioned sentiments have never proven more relevant. People crave connectivity in this era, with polls regularly pointing out depression, isolation, and a lack of social cohesion are at record highs. It’s nice to see someone turn back the hands of time on that front, if just a little bit, reminding us about everything that works outside of the corporate-controlled, digitally enhanced world of the top forty still has it.
Loren Sperry
