Chris Murray

Chris Murray, ex-front-man for the defunct Toronto ska pioneers King Apparatus and currently a solo artist stationed in California, comes back with his second album of ballads made solely on a four-track recorder. This isn't much of a departure from his last album, The 4-track Adventures Of..., but the formula worked last time and it does here again. He incorporates elements of ska, rock steady, folk and blues into simple acoustic songs driven by his soulful vocals. Chris Murray showcases his skills with a variety of instruments but the charm of his approach is the simple elegance of his music and his passionate voice. This would be one of my favourite records of the year if it weren't so similar to his last one.