Thanks to Cendrine for last week’s review of my new CD.
This is what she wrote:
“I was born too late to experience the hippie movement directly, but I was raised by parents who loved a good song with meaningful lyrics. And while some look at that era with condescension, others like me enjoy the message and the activist passion behind it.
Glenn Chatten can definitely be called a “hippie”. And in true hippie fashion, his music tells stories of peace and self-consciousness. His songs are poetic, uplifting, and bring the listener back to a time when the artistic spirit was about people and not money.
“Where You Need to Be,” Chatten’s new album, is a great piece of Canadiana that boasts a unique variety and mixture of genres. Whether it is Folk, Celtic music or Blues, Chatten’s guitar and occasional harmonica happily echo in your mind, while his voice — a distant cousin of Johnny Cash’s — leaves your heart bathed in a warm embrace.
Overall, I really like this album. In particular, some of the songs (“For the Sake of Oil,” “Adams River Runs,” “The Heart That Is Your Land” and “Embassy”) deserve to be streamed by radio stations and featured in movies. With that being said, I feel that a couple of tracks are a little on the safe side and have been heard before (“Blues Band in Afghanistan” and “Rollin’ to Surrender,” for example). And sometimes, Chatten over enunciates his lyrics.
However, one cannot deny the passion and sincerity of the album. Chatten is an artist on a spiritual mission. He invites us to open our minds and hearts to the beauties of this world, and to take care of one another. And in this day and age, we need more of that. ”
See the posting at http://www.examiner.com/art-reviews-in-canada/cd-review-where-you-need-to-be-by-glenn-chatten-review.