Christopher Wright’s debut album is an unflinching journey through life’s struggles.
East Texan singer-songwriter Christopher Wright survived addiction, jail time and a serious health crisis, to make his debut album, aptly titled “The Other Side”. His cool, clear drawl imbues its nine songs with the laidback poise of one who is all too aware of life’s troubles and lucky breaks. Producers Lucas Hubbard (son of outlaw country’s Ray Wylie Hubbard) and Jonathan Tyler round up a stable of top-notch musicians, including Cody Braun from Reckless Kelly, to provide Wright’s performances with a crisp, natural sound that combines elements of roots rock and country.
The opener ‘Collin County’ wastes no time throwing listeners right into Wright’s topsy-turvy world. He’s in a jail cell, waiting on bail, and mulling over burned bridges, vowing never to end up in the same situation again (though we know he will). Fiddle, mandolin and organ ominously swirl around ‘Things I Can’t Afford’, as Wright reflects on regrets and wasted time, and learns the worth of each passing day. The effortless rocker ‘Off to the Races’ has its protagonist finding the right path following a lifetime of running from mistakes. After turning his back on long drinking nights at the bar, Wright’s partner continues to go after the wild life in the bluesy honkytonk ‘Drunk on You’. Atmospheric slide guitars and keyboards bring an air of bleak desolation to ‘Shortcuts’ which shows that taking the easy way out doesn’t always end up making things easy. ‘Love Me Yet’ is a breezy love song featuring both blazing guitar and fiddle solos, while the proud strut of ‘Good One to Quit On’ is a fitting finale to close Christopher Wright’s “The Other Side” with both a nostalgic look back to the past and a hopeful wish for the future.
