Customer Reviews

Driving North

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're a fan of singer/songwriters along the lines of Patty Griffin, Cheryl Wheeler, Lucinda Williams and Elyza Gilkyson, then there's a fairly good chance that you will rejoice in the music of Chris Pureka. This New England-based folkie combines lyrical songwriting ability with an emotionally expressive (and thoroughly husky) voice, drawing you in with her simple homespun songs about heartache, happiness and the change of the seasons. Drenching the songs in the imagery of her surroundings, Pureka creates a soundtrack for East Coast travels, evoking some to compare "Driving North" to Bruce Springsteen's early '80s masterpiece "Nebraska." On gorgeous ballads like "Unwelcome" and "3 a.m.," she nails matters of the heart, while on driving, insistent tunes like the haunting "Silo Song" and "Reprieve," she does the same with a ferocity that will instantly capture your attention. Listen to any of those tunes (not to mention "Burning Bridges" or the urgently soulful "Porch Songs") and try not to instantly fall in love with Pureka's music. In fact, I dare you.

This album is beautiful. Pureka's melodies invoke wonder and awe at how someone as young as she is can be so talented and able to express emotion in such a raw, powerful way. Her voice is an amazing instrument.

I have seen Chris perform twice, everytime she plays she captivates her audience and wills a sense of calm. Her voice alone is enough to buy the cd, but the passion that lies under the surface is astounding, evoking images of torn lovers reminiscing about times past, silos full of hay and passionate love. Her music moves the soul.

Every once in a while you will find an artist that speaks directly to your soul. For me, Chris Pureka is one of those artists. While I love her skillful guitar playing and her soulful, passionate voice, it is the lyrics of her songs that haunt me. She writes about the rawest of human emotions and the toll they take on your life. Of all of the songs on Driving North, "Burning Bridges" is by far my favorite. The juxtaposition of the rawness and pain of the subject matter with the beauty and passion of her voice is flawless. With each guitar chord, I feel a piece on my emotional armor getting damaged and I know that I will become completely vulnerable to her. I can't stop myself from listening to her albums over and over. Just amazing...

With all the crap that gets sold to us everyday and shoved down our throats Chris Pureka is a refreshing break from the fake plastic rythyms we are bombarded with. this album hits the spot!

I discovered this artist listening to Pandora on my phone one day, and fell in love instantly. The songs Chris delivered on this album are meaningful and I cant get enough of it, I listen to the entire album straight through.

Chris Pureka jokes about her songs being "dark." While there is truth to her joke (on this album more so than with Dryland), I can not listen to this album and feel anything other than awe-struck and inspired. The emotion is raw but the message isn't angst. Combine Pureka's responsible, poetic lyrics with her breath-taking vocals and foot-tapping, forward-moving guitar work and I'll gladly pronounce "dark" folk as my favorite genre!
PS: I urge you to see her perform live... she's absolutely amazing!

Driving North is a really incredible album. Chris's poignant lyrics and intricate guitar make this cd really stand out. Every single track is exceptional. If you are going to by one new folk album this year, I recommend Driving North.