Chris Riffle - Introducing...
by Tara McEvoy
published: 15 / 8 / 2010

Label:
Chris Riffle
Format: CD
intro
Bland and cliched debut album from New York-based singer-songwriter, Chris Riffle
If there’s one genre which is described perfectly by the term ‘over-saturated’, then it’s that of the singer-songwriter. Elliot Smith, David Gray, Sufjan Stevens, 'Wind in the Wires'-era Patrick Wolf, the newly solo Fyfe Dangerfield... the list goes on. And, now, we have the addition of Chris Riffle. While his ‘Introducing...’ offers soundbites which recall the work of many of the aforementioned artists, Riffle’s own work never truly flourishes in its own right, as he leans too heavily on inspiration from his predecessors to forge his own path. Unfortunately, featuring a narrative littered with lyrical clichés such as, ‘Looks like angels start to kiss’, the record also occasionally resembles the work of altogether less appealing songwriters in the James Blunt mould. On the bright side, ‘Introducing...’ makes for pleasant listening - in all too rare moments, Riffle even manages to convey true, pure emotion, as his gentle, androgynous vocals ache and waver while he sings, ‘It don’t matter if I want you back, I always want what’s bad for me’ on opener 'Roll Over', a slow – building song which sets the tone for the following nine tracks . Donovan cover 'Catch The Wind' is a novel, mellow reinvention of the original, an intimate reimagining replete with sighed vocals, and 'Younger Years' marks a sea change, a song infused with a jazz rhythm, it sees refreshing change of pace. Yet, ultimately, the album is too self-indulgent, and frankly, wearyingly repetitive, to have any real impact. Listenable, absolutely, perfectly suited to being background music, definitely, but, ultimately, the music showcased on ‘Introducing...’ has been done a million times before, and, sadly for Chris Riffle, it’s been done better.
Track Listing:-
1 Roll Over2 Catch the Wind
3 Everything You Need Is Here
4 Younger Years
5 Just Assume
6 Walk Away
7 Simple
8 Light and Water
9 Trains
10 Believe In Now
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Sukie Smith - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart