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Every once in a
long time you put on a CD and you get a real surprise...such
was the case with yours, Chris...as I stated before, country
is alive and well and living in Ireland...your songs 1)all
sounded like they came from the same pen, 2) all sounded like
they belonged on the same album, and 3) were refreshingly
country from the first to the last track...I actually heard 3
swing songs! "Gotta Have Some Fun" being the first and it took
me back to a time when that was actually on country
radio...great song....more than anything I was impressed with
the way you turn a phrase, not the same old cliches...."when
you can hold a minute in your hand and say this is how it's
gonna stay"....the title track had a great, great, feel and a
wonderful message...your song good at getting by had a groove
and a half on it that reminded me of "C'est'la'vie" the way
Emmylou Harris did it....and I will say it again, "No More
Lonely Fools" is just about as well written as anything I've
heard in a long time...you should be proud of this package and
I'm sure you are ... keep writing and know that you have a fan
here in the states...it was a pleasure to meet you and to hear
your work...you've got it...
Tony Arata
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From renown
British critic ..... Mr. Ken Muzzall .....
CDs Of The Month
Chris McLernon
Hands Of Time
When I first heard Joe Moore singing Chris’s songs I thought
I’d like to hear more from this guy; Well I got the
opportunity when Chris sent me his 12 track self-penned album.
Hands Of Time almost 45 minutes of sheer pleasure from this 12
tracker, consisting of 6 delightfully smooth ballads 5
dance-along songs and 1 lovely waltz. Loved every minute of
it. Gets off to a real bouncy start with What You’ve Done To
My Heart and then bounces on with another toe-tapper, Gotta
Have Some Fun. Two delightful body-swaying ballads next,
followed by another hand-clapper For me Steal My Heart Away,
is the cream of the milk. A lovely three-step waltz. Tracks 7
and 11 are good for the dancers who like to nip around the
dance floor., whereas tracks 8 and 9 are a little smoother.
Tracks 10 Maybe That’s the Reason and 12 No More Lonely Fools
are nice “ Buckle Polishers”, I’ve played this album a dozen
times already and it gets better every time I hear it.
I’ll tell you more about this guy in my Focus On Column.
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During the course of a year I
listen to many hours of music, the variety of artists, styles,
and sounds are vast. Sadly, for some artists their music and
hard work is just a compilation of done to death covers or
they sound like a contestant in the television show Stars
In Their Eyes.
Receiving this 12-track album
Hands Of Time
I must confess, when seeing the artist was from Ireland it
generated thoughts of more ballads about the Emerald Isle set
to a tick- tock tempo. I put the album in the player and when
the music started the shock came like a bucket of ice water,
the credits confirmed a singer/songwriter/musician using all
original material but his music was modern country leaning
more towards that of Garth Brooks than his native Celtic
sounds.
At this moment in time Chris is busy working the bar scene and
guesting with bands. His album has been gaining extensive
airplay in Europe and Australia. A follow up album has already
been started and it will contain an even wider view of country
music McLernon style. He is also working towards forming his
own band.
In this review I have made informing you about the artist the
main point because he is still unknown. The music is so strong
it can stand up and take on all challengers, for me to do it
full justice would require a special feature. Forget about
crossing the pond just cross the Irish Sea to hear some truly
sensational original country music.
I suggest if Ronan Keating is looking for a country follow up
to “If Tomorrow Never Comes” listen to “Summer Storm” on this
album.
DO NOT MISS THIS ALBUM. MY BRIT ALBUM OF THE MONTH.
By IAN McQUEEN
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