Back To Artist
Chris Lucas : At the Speed of Life
Log in to add to your wishlist
Chris Lucas' finger-style guitar playing is highly eclectic, moving from the openness of Michael Hedges, through rhythms of Leo Kottke, into the voicings of Joe Pass, all the while delving into open and alternate tunings, and satisfying tone.
Genre: Folk: Modern Folk
Release Date: 2002
At the Speed of Life
Chris Lucas
Record Label: Frozen Rope
  • Buy CD - $10.00
  • Download Album (MP3) - $5.00
SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

Share This Album

| Share
Preview Song Name Time Buy
1. Cool Beans (instr.) 3:13 + MP3 $0.99
2. This Morning Song 4:07 + MP3 $0.99
3. Soul of a Man (Blind Willie Johnson) arr. 4:27 + MP3 $0.99
4. Blixie Bimber (instr.) 4:29 + MP3 $0.99
5. Hanging on the Wind 5:44 + MP3 $0.99
6. Heart Looking Backward 2:47 + MP3 $0.99
7. Curtains 4:35 + MP3 $0.99
8. Misty Mountain 4:33 + MP3 $0.99
9. David Danced (Instr.) 5:07 + MP3 $0.99
10. On the Sea 3:43 + MP3 $0.99
11. Only One Life (instr.) 3:04 + MP3 $0.99
preview all songs

Album Notes

Chris Lucas is a finger style guitarist from Richmond, Va. Over decades of playing and learning, he has incorporated a master's degree in composition with various influences into a unique, personal style. Formal classical sensabilities are wedded with the eclectic ideals of such artists as Bruce Cockburn, Michael Hedges, Nick Drake, John Renbourne, and Joni Mitchell to form Lucas' own distinctive style and personality.
Lucas' songs delve into matters of the heart, soul, and spirit, exploring life through the eyes of a person with conviction. In other words . . . a real person living real life with its challanges and triumphs, successes and short comings.
His '98 debut "Flood on the Ground", is a profound work that literally compelled repeated listening - rarefied ground with faith and finesse meeting in perfect harmony - the opening shot from an artist who had only begun to hit his stride.
Chris maintains a rigorous annual performance schedule, and has shared the stage with Leo Kottke, Pierce Pettis, David Wilcox, Phil Keaggy, Wes King, Andrew Peterson, and Kate Campbell to name a few.
"At the Speed of Life" is the second promising release with critical acclaim from NPR, Billboards magazine associate editor, Gordon Ely, and others. "Speed" is a more straight ahead, acoustic guitar-featured approach; chock-full of crafty songsmithing and 4 dextrous solo instrumentals.
Also: See the web site for more info on Chris' song cycle, The 3-Penny Cantata.

Read more...

REVIEWS

A mystic-spiritual quest - the 6-string leads the way.
author: Style Weekly
                            
This CD finds Chris Lucas mixing stellar guitar styling with an introspective vocal and lyrical craft. This combination works to create a mood for a range of listeners. On the one hand, guitar fans can focus on Lucas' complex and satisfying instrumental work. Delving into open tunings and unerring tone, Lucas' 6-string fretwork pushes his musical ideas along gently yet forcefully throughout his arrangements, and his playing is first-rate. Others will find his affirming wordplay sung in an Art Garfunkel-meets-Graham Nash register the touchstone that allows entry into Lucas' world of mystic-spiritual quest. From the driving "celtic blues" of Soul of a Man, to the ethereal, e-bow enhanced Hanging on the Wind, "Life" is a worthy artistic creation - a pure and fragile statement to the common humanity that peaceful and harmonious music finds in us all.
Read more...
Acoustic guitar virtuoso; interesting mystical songs; comes out of Keaggy, Cockb
author: unknown
                            
Chris Lucas is a very unknown acoustic guitar virtuoso. But his playing is as progressive as it gets and on top of that he's got a fine voice. His music has a mystic tone and quality - it's a bit hokey but it's a very good album. One could hear his Bruce Cockburn influence in guitar style and voice, but he's no clone. He has many influences and you can tell. Plus, like I said, his guitar playing is tops - like a mixture of Keaggy, Cockburn, Hedges, etc.. Cool Beans and David Danced showcase his style. Lyrically he's christian but with more of a mystical quality like early Cockburn. It's a pretty creative album and the only place I've seen it was in a Christian bookstore. Luckily you can get it on CDbaby. It's worth the dough, especially if you like mellow and classical folk.
Read more...
Thought-Provoking, Toe-Tapping, Smile-Inducing Acoustic Mastery
author: Eric Beeblebrox
                            
Now I'm not a super guitar freak - I don't know half of the guys mentioned as Chris' influences or guys he sounds like. But I am a Christian and like songs with great, thought-provoking lyrics. Not only do you get that with "At the Speed of Life" but you get solid guitar playing to boot. This is a great acoustic album - fun to listen to and think about. I can't wait to have company over so I can play it and hear, "Hey, who's THAT we're listening to?"
Read more...
Sell your music on CD Baby and iTunes! Minimize this Tab Open this Tab