Kris Gruen - Part of It All

  by Lisa Torem

published: 7 / 4 / 2011

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Review

Often compared to Andrew Bird and Arcade Fire, singer-songwriter Kris Gruen, son of famed rock photographer Bob Gruen, was exposed to all aspects of the music business. Perhaps being exposed to this world seen behind the lens provided great internal inspiration or perhaps constant exposure to talented artists was the muse, but, either way, Gruen has developed that special quality that allows him to translate human emotion into ecstatic tales. His second album, 'Part of It All', arouses the sonic senses in the way a stunning still life stimulates the sense of sight. His debut, 'Lullaby School', broadcast a simpler soul. This release is more lush, but no less earnest. The title song, for example, introduces shimmering halos of imagery that tastefully gather force like rolling tumbleweeds. ‘Euphoria’ illustrates the subtle dichotomies that attract or possibly distant lovers. “She wants to live outside of town on fertile ground,” we discover. Further along, “She surfs the web/He smokes a joint.” Twirling sonic cosmos continue to titillate, track by track. ‘Memoir’ drips with sensitive melodies and succinct descriptors: “Stars inside the flames on the ends of their matches”, while ‘White Flag’ offers the listener chilling epiphanies: “Offender, defender /I’m a white flag, I surrender/And I’m only one man…” ‘Dunroven’s Farm’ features smooth-as-porcelain guitar and recalls the primitive splendour of 60's folk icons. ‘Red Doors’ repetitive phrase, “heartbreak into song” is penetrating, yet just a warm-up act for the almost Shakespearian ‘Wasted on the Young’ where Gruen sings, “Before the fruit falls from its coarse winter bark/It kisses the night until sweet with dark.” The epic track, ‘Of Cordoban Kings (Abderrahman 111') is still more poignant: “Moorish tears ran in tributaries on Mediterranean virgin shores.” Throughout, splatters of J.J. Beck’s accordion, multi-instrumentalist Gruen’s toy and thumb piano, and Lauren Molina’s cello sweeten the already mature and breathless songwriting. Kris Gruen may be the quintessential pied piper of the new millennium.

Track Listing:-

1 Part of It All
2 Euphoria
3 Memoir
4 Dunroven's Farm
5 White Flag
6 Wasted on the Young
7 Activist
8 Red Doors
9 Home
10 Driving Snow
11 Of Cordoban Kings