ARTIST: Christopher Wilson
TITLE: Read On
LABEL: Cattle Call Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 199kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 51m total
RELEASE DATE: 2006-06-00
RIP DATE: 2007-05-03
Track List
----------
1. Out There Eddy 4:06
2. The Loop 4:12
3. Read On 5:13
4. If Only 4:10
5. Diane Drove 3:27
6. Pulling The Wool 4:01
7. Opening The Lotus 4:17
8. Without Me 3:06
9. Facelift 5:23
10. No Such Thing 3:35
11. Circle Of Palms 4:54
12. Smoke And Mirrors 4:46
Release Notes:
Read On--the much anticipated sophomore release from Houston-based
singer/songwriter Christopher Wilson--is a schizophrenic indie pop/rock
excursion from start to finish. While the twelve tracks allude to a variety of
alternative sounds, textures and influences from yesteryear, they ultimately
reveal an originality all their own. The songs don't meander; they get straight
to the point. Replete with timeless lyrics, melodic guitar hooks and piercing
vocals that showcase the range of Wilson's voice, each track stands unique in
melody, sonic textures and lyrical content further demonstrating Wilson's
versatility as a songwriter: Out There Eddy trumpets the plight of runaways; If
Only touches upon the universal feelings of regret and pining for true love;
Opening The Lotus exalts love metaphorically as the light that sustains all life
on earth; Facelift unveils the darkness of deception; No Such Thing evokes the
disillusionment and rage of the struggling working class--hard rock anthem
style. Read On is about real people in an unreal world of artifice and
selfishness.
"The songs I chose to record for Read On were based solely on their lack of
uniformity with regard to their overall sound, lyrical theme and vibe" says
Wilson, "The juxtaposition of the songs on the CD is totally intentional, taking
the listener on a joyride that spans from alternative pop to ambient acoustics
to hard rock. All of the songs were inspired by real life situations and a few
of them are totally autobiographical."
Hailed by Indie-Music.com as "a troubadour from olden times who's just visiting
this era," singer/songwriter Christopher Wilson emerged onto the Houston scene
in 2001 with the release of his solo debut CD East Mall Daze. The combination of
Wilson's dynamic vocals, guitar prowess and pop/rock writing sensibilities has
garnered a range of positive reviews:
"otherworldly...not from this time...excellent song arrangements;"
"triumphantly upbeat pop poetry;" "thought-provoking lyrics reinforced by
strong, emotional vocals."
This Pennsylvania native began his musical journey at the age of nine, playing
guitar and singing in church in his hometown of Harrisburg. "I learned how to
play acoustic guitar from a nun at Catholic school" says Wilson, "She totally
rocked my world, until my oldest brother turned me on to Zeppelin!" After a
stint in the U.S. Army, Wilson began writing songs while fronting the Baltimore
band Blanket Party, eventually setting out on his own in the East Village scene
of New York City in the mid-nineties playing such venues as CBGB's/Sidewalk
Cafe/The Spiral/Kenny's Castaways. A showcase at the Philadelphia Music
Conference soon followed. After a few demo flirtations with industry contacts
but no offers coming in, he relocated to Houston. In 2001, his solo debut CD
East Mall Daze was released on his indie label Cattle Call Records, eventually
hitting the streets via Southwest Distribution. East Mall Daze received airplay
in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Texas, in addition to scattered airplay
nationwide through internet, NPR and college radio shows featuring the songs
Calling Kerry, How Why & When, Family Function, Arnold Avenue and Wildflower.
In early 2004, Wilson met Houston-based independent filmmaker Jeff Faulkinbury.
Their first collaboration was a music video for the East Mall Daze single How
Why & When. The video went into regular rotation on the Austin Music Network.
Faulkinbury soon released his first feature film: a script he renamed Read On
after the title song of Wilson's new CD. "From the word go, it was synergistic
energy with Jeff" Wilson avows, "Jeff totally honed in on the
variety-bag-of-tunes theme to my new record which was a moment of pure
serendipity, since his script had a very similar theme with its variety bag of
characters complete with unique storylines." Both parties agreed that Wilson's
new CD Read On would also serve as the soundtrack to FaulkinburyÆs film.
Christopher Wilson is featured in the film performing Smoke and Mirrors, an
acoustic ditty which pokes fun at those folks who would do anything to be
famous, even if it means losing their real self--their true identity. There's
that word again: real.