Chris Rea - Road Songs For Lovers (2017)

 


Do you like drinking an old fine wine? Well, this is what this album sounds like. Chris Rea has been on my radar since I heard Road To Hell (Part II) and Driving Home For Christmas on radio in the early 90's. Having never checked out his albums, I decided to spin his latest one. Many hardcore fans say it's awful and that he only managed to produce it after his long illness. Well, as someone with no bias, I can say it immediately puts you back in the Chris Rea mood, which is relax, put your feet up and sip at leisure. You shouldn't expect any huge surprises here and I cannot compare it to his earlier works, but some have stated that it is his standard rock style rather than the bluesy stuff he began writing after Espresso Logic. Whatever that means, I enjoy his guitar playing and his voice is distinctive, so I found it to be an easy listening and solid experience. As I type the seemingly maligned 'Money' is playing. I like tracks like this because they talk about life and seem real. When I listen to an older artist who is advanced in years, I come with a bit of respect to what they might have to say about the world and it's issues. What Chris Rea comes down to for me though is driving with my Dad in the car as a kid and listening to that dry voice coming out the radio, and this transports me right there again. Some things don't ever seem to change.

Chosen track: Money



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