EP Review: Chris Carmack’s ‘Pieces Of You’
The guy is a pure talent – one who isn’t afraid to paint outside the lines, and sound just as pure and as authentic in any one style as the other.
On the ABC series Nashville, Chris Carmack portrays Will Lexington, a troubled Country performer who has been trying to come to terms with his sexuality. Just like many of the actors on the series, Carmack is also a singer – but just like Lexington marches to his own drumbeat as a human being, Carmack does things in a different way musically.
Granted, there are elements of Country Music on the album – if you can define what the format is or isn’t. But, a deeper listen to the album reveals an artist who is just as home in a Blues or Pop setting than straight-ahead Country. Sometimes, when a reviewer writes words such as this….it can be taken as a knock of sorts, as if to say the performer has no certain direction.
However, in the case of Chris Carmack……that’s not true. The guy is a pure talent – one who isn’t afraid to paint outside the lines, and sound just as pure and as authentic in any one style as the other.
Furthermore, there is no filler on Pieces Of You. The opening cut, “Being Alone” is nothing short of a masterpiece. Carmack’s vocals are warm and personable – a hallmark of the format, but from a stylistic point of view, you can tell that he grew up as much influenced by 90s Rock and Blues as any other format. “What Has Changed” carries that sound further with some nifty guitar licks throughout the track. It would very much be at home on 90s Pop radio, as well.
In fact, the only drawback to this EP is just that……it’s an EP. Five songs in, and it’s over. I would really love to hear more from this talented singer from the District of Columbia. Is it Country by definition of what radio plays? I don’t know about that….However, I can tell you that if you are a music fan, you need to do yourself a favor and check this out!
Pieces Of You will be available beginning Friday, Dec. 11.
