Chris Knight - Heart Of Stone

Heart of Stone Bottom Line:

Chris Knight is an amazing singer/songwriter and there's no doubt in my mind that if you have an appreciation for talent you'll be glad you purchased this album. As was the case with his previous works, Heart Of Stone is bound to impress anyone that takes the time to listen. There's definitely something special about this artist. It's no surprise to me and it shouldn't be to you either.

About The Artist:

Chris Knight was already interested in music at three years old when he first received a plastic guitar. It wasn't until after graduating from college with a degree in agriculture and spending a few years in the field of land reclamation that Chris decided it was time to give songwriting a shot. By then he had been playing and practicing guitar for quite some time.

After arriving in Nashville from the state of Kentucky, things really took off and by the time 1997 rolled around, he released his debut album.

Since that time, Chris has gone on to release some of the greatest albums in the singer/songwriter genre. When asked to describe his music, Chris just says it's a mixture of different genres to create what he calls good music, including Americana, Rock, Country, and even Pop. Personally I wouldn't know which part of this album has a pop leaning, though it's obvious the different types of influences that color his songs. To me, it's just fine music without any pretentiousness. Finally, another Chris Knight collection that is strong enough to stand on its own.

Heart of Stone - The Songs:

In anticipation of Chris' new album I had been listening to his previously-released material and hoping that Heart of Stone would impress me like the other ones. It's funny how a single song can put aside those worries, allowing the chance to enjoy each new track. "Homesick Gypsy" has such a cool sound to it, with the blend of bouzouki, banjo, and slide guitar. It really sets the tone for the whole project.

With a title like "Something To Keep Me Going," you'd expect it to be some sort of love song, but that's not the case this time around. Though the man mentions how in the past thinking about the woman and looking at her picture would make him appreciate what he had, these days he uses them as a reminder to keep on moving down the road, away from the woman only thought he knew. It might be a tough road to follow at first, but in time it will become easier if he continues to realize he's doing what he should.

Any Chris Knight album needs to have it's share of story-telling songs. "Crooked Road" weaves the story of a young man and woman who married in their teenage years. Many years down the line they had children and their first born son died in a coal mining accident. You can't help but feel right along with the man as he curses the road that brought him so many hard times and bad luck. I particularly think the following line stood out: "We learned long ago that you don't doubt the good Lord's plan, but somethings is hard to take, Lord. We just try to understand."

Another good story song that rolls along at a slower pace is "Danville," which musically reminds me of a song ("Hard Candy") that can be found on Chris' A Pretty Good Guy album. There comes a time when enough is enough and you have to walk away from what you know is a bad situation and is the moral of this story.

Money might be what many people think about when the word "happiness" is mentioned, but even the man in "Another Dollar" had second thoughts. That is, until he continues along about his business. It might not buy everything, but he needs that cash to make himself feel better. With the way the song is written you can either identify with the man who is all about the money, or you will be thankful you're the exact opposite of him.

Lately I've been interested in the sequence and the placement of certain songs at either the beginning or end of an album. Sometimes artists want what they see as the coolest or most likely to grab listener's attention right out of the gate and then end with a different sound altogether. "Go On Home" is stripped down and what Chris does best. I feel that it closes the album with a strong focus on one of the most important things to a singer/songwriter - the lyrics. After all, what good is a song if you can't get to the heart of it via the words? With Heart Of Stone and any Chris Knight album previously released, you know you'll always get your money's worth.

Release date: August 19, 2008 - Drifter's Church

Heart of Stone Track List:

1. Home Sick Gypsy
2. Hell Ain't Half Full
3. Something to Keep Me Going
4. Heart of Stone
5. Danville
6. Another Dollar
7. Almost there
8. Crooked Road
9. Maria
10. Miles to Memphis
11. My Old Cars
12. Go On Home