From personal ballads with modern themes to acoustic-rock pieces that are as thought-provoking as they are humorous, James Christensen has shown a range that defies easy categorization. Lyrically and melodically driven, his songs peer at familiar the [+]From personal ballads with modern themes to acoustic-rock pieces that are as thought-provoking as they are humorous, James Christensen has shown a range that defies easy categorization. Lyrically and melodically driven, his songs peer at familiar themes from unfamiliar angles, attempting to pin down the truthes that hold us all together. Playing acoustic guitar and singing with a mix of anger, empathy, sadness and joy, his performances never fail to satisfy.
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Northeast Performer Review
Reviewer -Mike Bellefeuille
May, 2004 issue
The first track on Road to be Free, James Christensen's debut, is in fact the title track and Christensen wastes no time in setting the tone of the CD. The title track begins with Neil Young-esque vocals and tells the story similar to the one Robert Frost told in his famous poem, "The Road Not Taken." The song is sad, but pleasant and the second track, "Android Lover" shows Christensen's more humorous side. "If I had an android lover / I would always wonder / is she thinking or processing data?" Christensen sings. The song is an example of what Christensen does so excellently on this album; he fills his songs with a touch of humor while managing to keep them still relevant to a more serious underlying subject. Road to be Free is straight-up folk rock in the singer/songwriter tradition with only two songs on the CD including musicians and instruments other than Christensen and his guitar. Road to be Free is sparse but consistent, and an enjoyable listen from beginning to end that never becomes tiring or repetitious. Christensen's gentle strumming and calm, but expressive voice gently move the CD from song to song, many of which are centered on the age old theme of lost love, but with others delving into deeper topics. While the delivery is always of great import, here the music serves primarily as the vehicle for the lyrics. The delivery is successful in its wide appeal and peaceful nature, but Christensen's lyrics are the real jewel on "Road to be Free." From love songs like "A Song about a Song about You" to the working class tribute, "The Hard Thing," Christensen's lyrics are clever and poignant. He manages to make even the love songs seem important and sincere, something all love songs should be
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