Chris Cohen
Paint A Room
Hardly Art Records [2024]
Album Overview: Chris Cohen has a background marked by notable collaborations and his involvement in various projects. He has played with Deerhoof and fronted The Curtains, as well as produced and performed with artists like Weyes Blood, Kurt Vile, Le Ren, and Marina Allen. His musical career has evolved from instrumental experimentation to embracing lyric writing as a form of self-discovery and expression. Paint a Room marks a significant milestone in Chris Cohen’s discography. This album, his first in five years and debut with Hardly Art, represents a departure from his previous work in several ways. Traditionally, Cohen created his albums in solitude, meticulously layering each instrument and sound by himself. This time, however, he chose a more collaborative approach, involving a band he had been performing with for nearly a decade. Paint a Room features contributions from notable musicians such as Jeff Parker, who added a delicate horn arrangement to the opening track “Damage,” and Josh Johnson, who provided intricate flute, saxophone, and clarinet parts throughout the album. This collaborative process allowed Cohen to step back and appreciate the artistic contributions of others, creating a richer and more diverse sonic palette. Overall, Paint a Room stands as a testament to Chris Cohen’s growth into a veteran artist status, both in terms of his willingness to embrace collaboration and his ability to address profound themes with clarity and depth. The album offers a blend of serene melodies and thoughtful lyrics, creating a more challenging listening experience that is both soothing and thought-provoking.
Musical Style: Cohen’s music on Paint a Room blends intricate pop with art-rock elements, characterized by rich harmonies, melodic structures, and layered instrumentation. The addition of a live band brings a dynamic and organic feel to the compositions, enhancing the overall texture and depth of the music.
Evolution of Sound: In this album, Cohen transitions from his solitary recording methods to a more collective approach, allowing his bandmates to contribute creatively. This evolution results in a more cohesive and full-bodied sound, showcasing his growth as a musician and his willingness to embrace new methods of collaboration. Cohen also now embraces a larger free jazz undertone here that gives Paint A Room a completely different vibe than his previous records.
Artists with Similar Fire: On Paint A Room you will hear similarities to artists like Sufjan Stevens, whose music also balances intricate arrangements with introspective lyrics, and Ryley Walker, known for his blend of laid-back melodies, instrumentation and reflective songwriting. Brandford Cox (Deerhunter) also comes to mind as a comparative style plus the authentically timely and timeless of songs from Amen Dunes.
Pivotal Tracks: Key tracks on the album include “Damage,” which tackles themes of power and control, and “Sunever,” a song dedicated to a transgender child, exploring themes of identity and transition. Another standout is “Physical Address,” inspired by personal experiences during the pandemic, addressing themes of change and resilience. All these tracks have engaging arrangements that sound innovative and keep each song memorable long after you play them.
Lyrical Strength: Lyrically, the album sees Cohen addressing a variety of contemporary issues with newfound directness. Themes of state violence, modern existential angst, and the complexities of identity and transition are woven throughout the tracks. For instance, “Damage” discusses the pervasive nature of power dynamics, while “Sunever,” inspired by a transgender child in Cohen’s life, explores the fluidity and inevitability of change.
CHRIS COHEN REVIEW HISTORY
Overgrown Path (2012)
CHRIS COHEN LINKS
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Hardly Art Records
- Father John Misty: Greatish Hits: I Followed My Dreams and My Dreams Said to Crawl [Album Review] - August 15, 2024
- Endless Valley: Kaskashir [Album Review] - August 14, 2024
- Dion Lunadon: Memory Burn (EP) [Album Review] - August 7, 2024