Chris Lyons
Painters Street
***and1/2 out of *****
The debut solo record from Chris Lyons is an easy flowing collection of eight light, roots rock based offerings that drift with relaxed charm. Painters Street, on Nudie Records, never rushes as a Sunday morning exhale vibe embodies Lyon's songs.
The New Orleans based artist has been active in recent years with Silver Synthetic, and fans of that band will find a lot to like with Painters Street. Lyons did not use his solo release to try experimenting, instead he delivered more of the same, misty folk rock with slight twists and turns.
The album opens with "Talking Blues" and the vibe is established from the first notes as the guitars ring and the organ colors the path. The mellowness continues for the bright "In Memory" which uses some more lead guitar lines while the electro keys and easy rocking folk, with some of Lyon's most out front vocals, arrive during "Here or There".
"When Are You Coming Down" is steeped in 70's FM radio sounds with breezy drums and guitar lines, grooving along in a Carly Simon "You're So Vain" like motion. Lyons also brings in touches of Americana to the sound as "It's Come Over Me" starts oddly with a drum machine before morphing into a rocky twang with light drums while "You Can't Hide" uses weeping strings and country bumps.
When things get the most dreamy Lyons seems to luxuriate in the space. "Long Gone" is swirling as shakers and bass keep things from floating out into the ether while the hazy extended album closer "Hold On" is tranquil, in zero hurry to go anywhere as Lyons drifts along languidly.
The overall sound, for the most part recorded live to tape, stays the same from start to finish. Fairly straight ahead, soothing light rock as Chris Lyon's vocals waft out of the speakers with breathy intimacy throughout this relaxing stroll down Painters Street.
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