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BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About
LOTD
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Kris Racer:
Time Spent on Airplanes
When I was in college, I frequently ran past a residence hall with a large seating area along the sidewalk. Nine times out of ten there was a guy sitting outside with his guitar, and when it was raining hed often still be there but would choose to move to a covered location. He sometimes would get money from people passing by, but he didnt really care because that wasnt the point. He was out there because he enjoyed it so much and was a great performer because of it. In fact, he often drew a decent little crowd and sometimes people would even bring along their own guitars just to play with him. Kris Racer reminds of this guy in a way. Perhaps Kris pulls out his guitar and plays for the people in the airport while he waits for his plane. Or maybe this is how he passes the time in his hotel rooms during his travels. It sounds as though he is enjoying himself, and I could imagine him really getting into a live performance. However, there is one large difference between him and the mysterious outdoor college musician of which I have such fond memories. This would be the vocal quality of the album in question. I believe that Kris possesses a passion for what he does, but he may need to take a few moments to get a better grasp on his voice. He seems to drift in and out of tune, and at times the tone gets away from him. He sings with more of a street performer quality while yelling along with his guitar rather than a musician singing in an intimate caf with a microphone and an audience. This works for some but isnt quite cutting it here. Kris Racer is a one-man operation with primarily him and his acoustic guitar appearing in each of the eight tracks, plus a ninth track that is fully instrumental. The ninth track has been my favorite upon each listen. I think that about sums it up right there. This is not to say that Kris Racer doesnt have potential, but he needs to separate himself a little more from his punk rocker roots and learn to blend his voice more harmoniously with his instrument of choice. Or maybe he should ditch the acoustic guitar and go back to punk.
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