Album Notes

Mostly solo-acoustic - bassist Rob Enge plays on four songs - live CD-R by critically-lauded singer/songwriter Rob Christensen. 'At The End Of The Day' was recorded in 1998 and features songs from Christensen's first two albums as well as tunes from the then-upcoming 'Opera Alley.'

*****

Belying the notion that hometapers never leave their bedrooms, Rob Christensen gives us front row seats at the Hot Brew in Fortuna, California. Prepare to weep into your cappuchino. In his songs, a series of struggles to sustain hope and faith in the face of disappointment, disenchantment and loss. Stripped to their intimate essence -- simple strumming and a bruised, raspy voice -- tunes like "September Knows," from Rob's brilliant 'The Truth Hurts' (1997) are at times even more effective than the originals. Recorded direct to cassette on Saturday, Nov. 14, 1998, 'At The End Of The Day' is a lo-fi map to buried treasure. Start digging! - Jim Santo, www.demouniverse.com.

*****

Rob is a singer-songwriter in the fashion of those for whom the tag was invented; Dylan, Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Randy Newman, etc... In fact, Rob's vocal style puts me in mind of Randy Newman by way of Jim Shelley. Rob writes, plays, and records his own songs which employ a straight ahead folk-rock approach. The lyrics explore the singer's emotions regarding various relationships, and like the songwriters I mentioned above, Rob is usually able to coin a phrase for the chorus that sums up his attitude about the situation, an attitude that most listeners can identify with. At The End Of The Day is recorded live in front of a bar/pub audience, and features Rob alone on the acoustic guitar. The up-tempo rock tunes suffer a little here, but the more folky tunes really come alive. - JH Christ, AUTOreverse, Spring 2000.

*****

Rob Christensen's new release is a CD-R of a live acoustic performance from November of 1998. Christensen's songs, which often have a lonely, desolate feel to them, have a new sense of urgency in a live setting. In fact, what really surprised me was just how much Rob's songs are reminiscent of Bob Mould or Paul Westerburg (esp. the latter).
Many of the songs, "Janie Sims" and "Club Scene", for example, have a desperation to them that is totally different from the studio recordings. As a live performer, Rob is totally at ease, joking occasionally between songs, and performing his songs with conviction. Christensen's music is definitely worth looking into. He also has two CD-R releases available, 'Smile Slightly' and 'The Truth Hurts.'
I've said this before, and gosh darn it I'll say it again, anybody into the lonely hazy sound of Mazzy Star would really dig Rob Christensen's songs. And it was cool hearing those songs in a different light on this live recording. - Ray Carmen, Reviews by Ray.