SUNSHONE STILL: Dead Letters

Sunshone Still

Dead Letters

© 2005 Chris Smith (ASCAP) (783707150109)

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Contemplative and Dusty Art-Country

notes

“Chris Smith (a.k.a. Sunshone Still) has a sound that reflects the work of artists such as Tom Waits, Elliott Smith, and Nick Drake. Dead Letters is his impressive debut, which he wrote, recorded and produced over the last three years; it's a musical landscape painted in the hushed tones of twilight. Acoustic guitars lead the way, occasionally joined by the lonesome and cutting sound of a harmonica or any number of acoustic instruments lazily meandering through the songs. The sparse instrumentation and subdued production emphasize Smith's plaintive baritone and the small-town pictures he paints. The summer-camp recollection “Fireflies” is a midtempo highlight, while the heartrending “Smoke Rings” is a picture of post-relationship depression.”

- No Depression, March/April 2006 Issue, Greg Yost


Sunshone Still* is the musical nom de plume for Chris Smith, a Nashville native now living in Columbia, SC. Since the 2005 release of Dead Letters, Chris has received an honorable mention at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival's Troubadour Competition and appeared on Shut Eye Records' compilation disc, The United State of Americana, Vol 3 with The Greencards and Jeff Black. Also, critics from The State and Free Times listed Dead Letters among the top '05 albums, and readers voted the album runner-up for Best CD by a Local Artist in the Free Times 2005 Best of Columbia poll. In 2006, he was featured in a Free Times cover story about “five buzz-worthy Columbia bands”.

Without a record contract, promoter, manager, booking agent, or publicist, the music continues to reach a national audience. The album was reviewed in No Depression (Mar/Apr 2006 issue) as an “...impressive debut...a musical landscape painted in the hushed tones of twilight.” He was featured on the NPR program, All Songs Considered: Open Mic in February 2006, and he has had two songs placed on the 2006 PBS series, Roadtrip Nation.



*"And I was green, greener than the hill
Where flowers grew and the sun shone still
Now I'm darker than the deepest sea
Just hand me down, give me a place to be"
-from Nick Drake's "Place to Be"

reviews

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  • Great CD
    author: Torben Dalgaard Hansen

    I had never heard of this band when I listened to them at CD Baby. Good thing I did. This is a really great CD and a great band. Not one of the songs on the entire album fall through. These guys know how to whip up a good song, Very recomendable album.

  • inspiring!
    author: Airiel

    I really loved this CD and I was so excited when I recieved it. This was the CD that drove me to order off CD baby. I was so happy to find it, I listen to it at work and it's truely a beautiful record.

  • Overall, a rather pleasant listening experience. A rare jewel.
    author: Daniel H. Kroener

    I am enjoying this CD. My wife and I play it a lot. One or two songs seem to lack the lyrical or instrumental beauty found in the rest of the CD. A treasure! Well worth the money.

  • A Blue Ridge Poet
    author: Grayson

    The cd is one that will definitely stir the attentive listener into moments of "ooh's" and "ahh's" and "very nice(s)" as Chris sings in poetic detail about Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and the mountain-scape w/in them. It is always nice to put the cd in when I'm out here in TX and fondly travel back in my mind to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains back home in the east. Anyone from any of the 3 mentioned states--though I'm not excluding all the other 47 states--will, in my opinion, really enjoy the sounds and lyrics of this cd. I definitely recommend it.

  • Impression debut from a talented independent artist
    author: Josh

    This is one of the best independently recorded and produced albums I have ever heard! Has a lot of the quiet hush and beauty of Iron and WIne. One of my new favorites...

  • Love it!
    author: NJA

    Hard to describe, doesn't really remind me of anyone, but I've been listening to it non-stop. Honestly, my favorite CD I've purchased in the past year.

  • Impressive Debut
    author: No Depression

    Chris Smith (aka Sunshone Still) has a sound that reflects the work of artists such as Tom Waits, Elliott Smith, and Nick Drake. Dead Letters is his impressive debut...it's a musical landscape painted in the hushed tones of twilight. Acoustic guitars lead the way, occasionally joined by the lonesome and cutting sound of a harmonica or any number of acoustic instruments lazily meandering through the songs. The sparse instrumentation and subdued production emphasize Smith's plaintive baritone and the small town pictures he paints. The summer-camp recollection "Fireflies" is a midtempo highlight, while the heartrending "Smoke Rings" is a picture of post-relationship depression.

  • Fantastic. Musically sound, lyrically brillant, creatively inspired.
    author: Miriam Hart

    The lyrics are wistful, pensive, reminiscent. Chris Smith's voice adds resonance to the melodies. It's a beautiful, melancholic CD. Some of the songs are slightly repetitive of each other but because of thier soulful quality, it justifies some repetition. Really good chill-out music. It passed the in-law test, so you know it's got to be good.

  • slow beautiful sad sounds
    author: jeremy

    Great CD, highly recommend it. Bought it based simply on the clips I heard and was not disappointed. You'll be hearing more from SUNSHONE STILL!

  • Beautiful
    author: Mike

    Reminded me of a cross between Elliot Smith and Cowboy Junkies. Just a great album.

  • Buy this album
    author: Gregory

    Top of the list album! Great music and lyrics and if you appreciate Americana/alt country then buy this album.If you do not like it then your taste is all in your mouth! Greg

  • …brilliant and enchanting as it swirls about…
    author: Shut Eye Records

    …truly a representation of what Americana roots music is all about…It is brilliant and enchanting as it swirls about…This entire CD is full of various sounds and vibes, it is perfect for almost any mood.

  • heavy with substance...If your heart is already broken, it will be broken again.
    author: The State

    Sunshone Still's songs are heavy with substance, drifting through minutes of sometimes sobering storytelling. The music is lathered with imagination. The instruments wander as the vocals suggest eyes staring straight ahead into darkness. Or is that hope? Sad, sad songs. If your heart is already broken, it will be broken again.

  • dusty anthems...comparable to the work of...Iron & Wine, Richard Buckner or Dami
    author: Free-Times

    Chris Smith lifted his musical nom de plume from the Nick Drake song "Place to Be" and doesn't put it to waste on his charming alt-country debut Dead Letters, which is equal parts Nashville, Austin and Carolina. Smith's songs are dusty anthems born in bedrooms, on barstools or behind the wheel and are comparable to the work of Damien Jurado, Iron & Wine, Richard Buckner or Damien Rice.

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