Album Notes

Ten Sides
Chris Guenther
Red Arrow Records, 2006

When Chris Guenther debuted his first CD release Honky Tonk Livin' in the summer of 2001, he was a struggling singer/songwriter - producer. What he lacked in guitar virtuosity and production engineering was over shadowed by his smooth and rich vocal style. At the mere age of twenty, his first record was written while he was in his teens. Though some criticized his lack of life experience and found it somewhat incomprehendable that a young man could sing of loss, addiction, and loneliness - Chris was able to pull it off with music that was believable and heartfelt. Starting his career in the dim-lit smoky honkytonks around his hometown of Mossyrock, Washington, Chris developed a style different from the musicians in the regional scene. He was a student of the classics, and he learned how craft a good song by absorbing the world around him.

Ultimately, this payed off with his sophomore release, Destinations Unknown, which progressed Chris' stylistic approach to country music one step further. Nearly five years had past since his debut. Chris was a wiser and more talented musician and producer. He crafted songs around Telecaster guitars, fiddle, and pedal steel. He composed songs that, while in the vein of his first album, took a more organized approach. Spending countless weeks on the European CMA and International Country Music Charts, Destinations Unknown was able to bring some recognition to the young honky man from Lewis County.

Now, a year later, Chris Guenther brings yet another project to the table. From songs of bitter anguish such as "Sick To Death" a Johnny Cash flavored lament, to "The Ballad of Diablo", a western rodeo cowboy epic, Chris tells stories of personal struggle and redemption. "Heartache Medication", a pseudo-novelty song about Jack Daniels, and two progressive country tracks, "Obsession" and "Edge of September" show the versatility of Chris' talent. "Inside Looking Out", a traditional Lefty Frizzell flavored two step and "Where I'll Be Found", an up-tempo drinking song cap off Ten Sides of Chris Guenther. Ten Sides proves that Chris Guenther's talent is not a fluke -he is the real deal.