The Lights From The Chemical Plant

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Robert Ellis has a voice that sounds like a soft-rock troubadour who’s been dreaming of Bakersfield’s country music while writing lyrics that read like those from either a hip indie rocker or a Gram Parsons disciple. He relocated from Houston to Nashville and enlisted town producer Jacquire King to wring out an authentic country sound while also veering toward Calexico and Lambchop. “TV Song” is a riff on people who live their entire lives vicariously through the small screen, while “Pride” and “Only Lies” ache with a straight-ahead honesty that sounds like what people thought Richard Buckner might be doing after hearing <i>Bloomed</i>. Both the seven-minute epics “Houston” and “Tour Song” turn to autobiography. “Chemical Plant” follows a couple from start to end. “Bottle of Wine” tells a dark tale. The cover of Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years” comes out of left field, which in Ellis’ case makes sense, since he’s a country singer who’s also something more.

via Apple Music