Chris Shiflett – Hard Lessons
Release Date: June 14, 2019
13 June 2019
Chris Shiflett tours with a little known band called the Foo Fighters. He plays guitar. He plays it well and has become a fan favorite on the road. What you may not know is that Shiflett is a damn good songwriter. And when you have that bug to write music, sometimes you have to do it in between sold out stadium shows. You write lyrics and come up with guitar parts, waiting for that day you walk into the studio to start laying the music down.
In this case that studio is the historic RCA Studio A in Nashville. The same place he recorded 2017’s West Coast Town. Produced by Dave Cobb, Hard Lessons is an eleven song album full of inspiration from legends like Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. That’s why you record in a place like Studio A. You get the benefit of working in the same room as legends like Waylon Jennings and B.B. King.
Shiflett also let’s his experience of excellent rock guitar enhance an overall sound that really ends up being an Alt-Country/Rock gem. It’s almost like mixing a Fender Telecaster with a Marshall amplifier. You get some sweet twang backed up by the power and fullness of a Marshall.
photo credit: Brantley Gutierrez
Hard Lessons starts with a nice up-tempo number that has one of those “crowd participation” type choruses.
Oh Mama
Have you heard
I’m about as good
As a liars word
Right away you can hear that sweet sound of the guitar I was talking about earlier. It’s a little bit country but it’s also a little bit rock n roll. (I know, I know)
One thing is evident, though. Shiflett has assembled a group of super talented musicians and the mix is top notch. I found myself locking into drummer Chris Powell’s snare and a crack/sound that is pure perfection.
My favorite song on the record, This Ol’ World, follows Liar’s Word. Firstly, the instrumentation is worth noting once again. This time the pedal steel played by Paul Franklin is superb and so smooth. I’ve gone back to this song just to hear that incredible sound a few times. And while the chorus is short on words, it’s one of biggest and best parts of the album. It puts a smile on my face every time. Plus, Chris is right: This ‘ol world has lost its goddamn mind.
photo credit: Brantley Gutierrez
Another standout on the album is the duet featuring Elizabeth Cook. The One You Go Home To – tells a familiar tale of love, lust and cheatin’. Its honesty makes for a song that I could envision Johnny and June hollering back at one another on. It’s the kind of song I used to hear hanging by the juke box when I was a kid when my Dad would take me to the VFW Hall for a cool afternoon treat (shirley temple).
The next song, I Thought You’d Never Leave, starts with a killer guitar riff that could almost start a bitchin’ 70’s song. In fact, it’s on this song where it finally hits me of who Shiflett’s vocals remind me of. Ace Frehley. I mean this in the highest regard. Ace’s 1978 solo record is the best of the Kiss solo’s and is one of my all time favorite records. Made me like these songs even more.
The back end of the Hard Lessons album features Marfa On My Mind. This track seemed to stand out for me for several reasons. Bassist Brian Allen’s bass had me grooving along the whole way. I especially loved hearing and feeling those climbs in the chorus. That combined with Powell’s steady overall drum and tom work was a perfect combination on this song. Shiflett lays down memorable guitar work throughout the album and this song was no exception. I just love his tone. It’s warm and bossy where it needs to be. Another positive note is that the next time I’m in Texas.. I’m going to Marfa.
It’s my opinion that Shiflett has produced exactly what he was looking to do. Work with a high quality team and create a solid record of songs that he was inspired to write. The album showcases his talented songwriting capabilities and his front man worthy voice. From Producer and instrumentalist Dave Cobb, right down to keyboardist Mike Webb and harmony vocalist Kristen Rogers. It’s a really good and very listenable record.
Overall, I think this leaves Chris in a position to continue to release high quality music and is sure to keeping growing his fan base. You know, just in case that little known band doesn’t pan out.
-Tommy Marz
You can follow Tommy on Twitter and let him know what you think.
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