Hundred Dollar Valentine

I could use the old saying that Chris Smither is like a fine wine that improves with age. But that would imply that his earlier work was less impressive than what he's doing now. The truth is that with a musical career spanning some 40 years or so, Mr. Smither has always been impressive. How he never became super famous during the singer-songwriter era is a mystery to me, but that was a bit before my time, so I can't explain it. He's been writing and playing great bluesy folk music since before I was in diapers and as I sit here now with grey hairs on my chinny chin chin, I find that more than a little bit amazing.My sense is (though I don't know for sure) that he's finally getting quite a bit more popular now, thanks in part to the democratization of music on the Internet. Not so long ago the only way to discover new music was to listen to the radio (or have a friend make you a "mix tape!"). Alleluia those days are gone! We now have services like Amazon, Pandora, and Rhapsody (just to name a few) where good talent is never far away and you don't have to depend on record producers and radio station execs to tell you what you like. I think Chris Smither thrives in this new environment because he is truly talented, and most everybody who stumbles on his music gets hooked.If I had one critique of Hundred Dollar Valentine, it would be that the accompanying musicians are just not needed. The harmonica is blazing, the backing vocalist has a pretty voice, the drummer is good... they're all fine. Fine fine fine. But they are gilding a lily. Chris Smither is at his very best when it's just him and his guitar... his big scratchy voice, flying fingers, and thumping foot. I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert a few months ago and it was an incredible experience. I was totally transfixed. I would have been perfectly happy to sit in my seat all evening and hear him play through every song he's ever written. Just the man and his acoustic guitar.My favorites cuts on this album are the more upbeat ones, including the title track, as well as What They Say, Make Room for Me, and Place in Line, but they're all good. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in concert again, because I have a suspicion he'll play many of the tunes from Hundred Dollar Valentine and I bet they'll sound even better than the album versions because it will just be him and his guitar. Pick up the album and check his tour schedule because he gets around a lot and he's really great in concert.

Three of the 11 tracks here are tunes Chris has previously recorded, "I Feel the Same," "Every Mother's Son" & "Rosalie." While they are all great songs and nice to hear again, these recordings are not so different from their original recordings. There are some new gems here that his fans and fans of melodic acoustic folk will love. "Hundred Dollar Valentine" that opens the set is a delightful piece of upbeat folk-rock that marries Smither's unique sense of melody with his wry lyrical sense, "I flip my switches but I don't turn on, not a flicker; I got no juice today; I had a lighter in my carry-on, but the airline took it away." "What It Might Have Been" is a classic loping lament where Chris sounds like the loneliest man on earth, "I lost a lot of things 'fore you came; I've learned that losin' is part of the game." "What They Say" has Chris' trademark foot tap keeping time to a joyful tune in juxtaposition with his wry lyric, "They say the good die young, but it ain't for certain; I been good all day & I ain't hurtin'." Other tracks like the intriguing "Feeling By Degrees" & the knee-slap ditty "Make Room for Me" are also delights. Every new release by Chris Smither is a cause for cheering & "Hundred Dollar Valentine" is no exception! Enjoy!

Accustomed to the lone folksinger Chris Smither and his guitar and tapping toe providing deep and sometimes humorous observations of life, romance, and society, I was surprised by the country folk band arrangements. Drums, cello, harmonica, dobro, xylophone, violin may not be necessary but they provide some lightness and emphasis to Smither's poignant philosophical thoughts. As a senior myself, his blues seem sharper, even personal. Lyrics are provided for further appreciation of his remarkably clever writing talent. His songs here concern ideals tarnished, of casting off expectations and attachments, of loss and death watching nearby, as in, "It ain't what I know what makes me blue/It's what I thought I knew", "A little taste of hope that slowly slides away,/in ceaseless rolling rhythms that become the day to day", and "dancing on the edge of the stage". I love this guy! There is a bonus, unlisted track (Rosalie) at the end of the album, where Smither performs his usual solo followed by conversation with songwriter Andy Friedman. This provides some direct comparison with the previous band treatment. For me, it is all about words and either way is fine. Pleased to hear you, Mr. Smither; perhaps I will encounter you again.

It's folky without being too leftist and bluesy without being cold.The music itself is beautiful: A variety of instruments are showcased all the while complimenting Smithers' vocals perfectly.This week I'm loving : "Make Room for Me" reminds me of the scratchy old victrola voices I grew up with. "What They Say" is a great introspective without being overly preachy. "What It Might Have Been" hits that nerve of every relationship that should have or could have been something more but just simply was not.Ah, but with each listen I discover something new, some old memory is jogged and a new favorite is born.Hope you find the same in this beauty...

This album is a fine, straightforward look at the Chris Smither style, immediately recognizable and pleasant, but lacking the grit, wisdom, and passion of his previous records over the past few years. "Leave the Light On", which was released a few years ago, was a masterpiece. This album really doesn't measure up to it. Get "LTLO" to hear Chris Smither at his very best.

Chris Smither is a thinking person's songwriter. Like his style or don't but listen to what he has to say and you'll have some thoughts to mull over. I don't know how many songs he has written but a very high percentage of them are worth singing, again and again. This batch is no exception; it is fine as can be. I just love riding along with Chris, he'd be a great traveling companion.

Hundred Dollar Valentine, if you haven't heard of Chris Smither then you need to check this out, somone once said he is my Eric Clapton of Acoustic guitar, and he writes great tongue in the cheek lyrics too.

So muss echter Blues klingen: Erdig, lässig "aus der Hüfte geschossen", unverstellt, glaubwürdig. Man geht mit und fällt in die Musik hinein. Wie aus einem Guss sind die Stimme und die Begleitmusik. Manchmal nuschelt sich Chris Smither in monotoner Unaufgeregheit durch den Song. Das ist packend und vollkommen ungekünstelt. Für die Musik gilt: Kein Ton zu viel und keine Note zu wenig, und jeder Ton ist genau an der richtigen Stelle eingesetzt. Perfekt!

This is my favorite Smithers recording and I am so pleased I have it.

Mr. Smither has been one of the most consistently high-caliber singer/song-writers of the last forty years. This is among his very best, which is saying quite a lot. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

ニューオーリンズのベテランSSW、Chris Smitherの新作は今まで同様、ブルース、カントリーフォークが、極自然と溶け込み、血、肉となり発せられる、アメリカーナの名作。アコギやハーモニカ、フィドル、重厚なボーカルにより、１曲１曲に意味を持たせ、音と唄がしみる。プロデュースはDavid Goodrichでギターで参加。初期、７０年代を彷彿させるが、年相応の重みも感じさせる理想的なSSW作。素晴らしい！