Christopher Denny - Age Old Hunger
In many ways, I am a little surprised to like this. It’s a little more country than almost anything else that I listen to. It also has just a touch of the soft classic rock to it at times, just a touch mind, but enough that I wouldn’t expect to like it this much.
Why do I like it then? Well his voice is gorgeous: quavering yet strong, almost brave sounding, if you can imagine what that means. There’s bits of Elvis and Dylan in there, and even a little Jeff Buckley; vulnerable yet bold.
Musically it’s really quite country, as I said, with bits of The Band and that kind of rocking country folk music - the sort of stuff that inspires a fair bit of Ryan Adams’ work. It’s not always entirely successful, or at least, some of it genuinely is too country for me, but for the most part the sad beauty that pervades most of this album transcends any genre barriers I may harbour and seeps gently and achingly into that feeling of nostalgia you can sometimes get for a life you’ve never actually known.
Christopher Denny - Gypsy Into a Carpenter
Christopher Denny - Westbound Train
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An interesting find. And where did you come up with this feller? He’s from Arkansas, I see, just like Levon Helm. There’s certainly lots of Turkey Scratch in that voice. Sort of a cross between the young Elvis and Devendra Banhart. Top notch.
Been a while since I heard a couple of downloads and decided to run straight out to buy it. A really long time actually. But this might just do it. It’s very Dylan. He’s also got a bit of male-joplin to him. Quite lovely.
C&B I think I found him on someone else’s blog actually, but I can’t remember which one. Lonesome Music is always a good bet for this kind of stuff.
It’s the voice that really makes the difference for me I think, although I know I’ve gone on about that quite enough already. Maybe that’s why the review is so short: just listen to his voice and you should know why I like it.
Nope. Not liking this at all.
Which is a shame because I was expecting to - going by the comments.
It’s like listening to the country Mick Hucknall.
That warble in his voice is horribly contrived. The songwriting is not even in the same league as The Proclaimers, and lacks the Scottish duo’s strength of identity.
The musicianship is pedestrian at best. The production values are straight out of the Shania Twain school.
Sorry, but it’s horrible.
Dylan, I believe you forgot to mention that he’s ugly, with long yellow toenails and bad breath. I’m not sure why, but I get the impression you don’t care for this. The country Mick Hucknall? Now that’s just plain cruel. Have a heart, the poor kid is only flesh and bone (and long yellow toenails) you know.
Yeah someone told me he was a kiddie-fiddler too.
Bollocks mate, this is ace.
It’s not ‘ace’..
If you said you found it appealing in a workmanlike fashion, then I’d let you get away with that, but ace suggests he’s compares favourably with the best in his chosen craft, which clearly isn’t the case.
Judging soloely by these two tracks; everyone he sounds like is much better. Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckely, even Mick fucking Hucknall!
No, maybe not Mick Hucknall.
That was a step too far. I apologise.
Again with the Hucknall! For shame, for shame. Once more and I’m telling.
All right then. Apology accepted (vicariously).
Fucksake. Alright, I won’t go so far as to say that I think this is the best album in the world, and it certainly has something of a soft country rock vibe, and it definitely is inferior to a lot of the most obvious comparisons, as you note above, but then so are a lot of things.
I just like his voice, and there’s something in it which for me lifts it out of an area I tend not to appreciate especially and plops somewhere good. And that Carpenter song is gorgeous.
See, I’m right.
I’m glad we finally agree.
I am pretty sure this is horrible.
i don’t dislike this at all.
That’s because it’s good, Euan. It isn’t cool, but it’s good.
[...] a raging debate over at Song By Toad as to whether Chris Denny is ace or the bullocks (not sure what that all means but it sounds [...]
agreed
See…
Anonymous agrees with me too.
…But is understandably reluctant to reveal his (or HER) identity, for fear that he (or SHE) will be judged harshly for holding such wrong-headed opinions.
How can you watch this and not be convinced? I ask you? How?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCinSKrfUE8
Quite right. We don’t like anonymous posters around here - I think that pretty much proves that you are wrong, Dylan, and that Mr. Denny is good.
Ahem! I actually think our reclusive friend was slavishly following with the general tone of approval on this board, and I was just being my usual obnoxious self by suggesting Anonymous was agreeing with me.
Just watched a bit of C&B’s YouTube clip, and it hasn’t changed my mind unfortunately.
Still getting those Hucknall vibes (something in the whiny, nasal quality to the voice).. although perhaps now with a hint of Chris Isaak on helium..
I’m really getting obnoxious now, aren’t I?
[...] You can forgive an album for getting a little sticky towards the end when the first two-thirds of it are as good as this. I’m still in a surprisingly country vein at the moment, although this is less smooth than the excellent Christopher Denny. [...]
Hopeless. Simply hopeless.
Even C&B is agreeing with me now…
Jesus fucking wept.