If youve ever been frustrated by a relationship and you have a somewhat twisted, sometimes evil, but very healthy sense of humor, then this guy is the artist for you.
His new album is named after his self-description, Emotional Wreck. But hes really more a philosopher of love the kind that didnt exactly make it to that happily ever after place. The songs on Emotional Wreck mimic the stages of grief we go through when a relationship ends. First you fight, then you blame, then youre mad, then youre sad, then you beg, then you grovel; eventually, youre fine with it and you move on to your next break up.
His flair for touching upon universal truths help him create songs like Passive Aggressive about the cute little problems that get blown out of proportion in every dysfunctional relationship; and like The Ghost of Your Ex, a tune about dates who can't stop talking about their ex-boyfriends. Dont Pass Out is bit of a frustrating song about having an overly drunken date pass out right before the most important moment of the night. A pretty ballad, See You Next Tuesday, uses the proper f***ing language to break up with someone because she and a buddy decided they should date as well. The album ends on Chriss new approach to women, Booty Call.
A hopeful romantic with a sardonic sense of humor, Chris has the knack for using self-deprecation and vulnerability to write songs about the hazards and frustrations of love and attempted relationships. Hes become a spokesperson for the unlucky in love.
Music Connection's Hot 100 Top Unsigned Artists 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007!
For a self-proclaimed emotional wreck, Chris Valenti is an accomplished artist. His songs are smart, quirky and just plain weird, but they draw the crowd into his bizarro world. His material explores lifes absurdities and relationships gone wrong. Whether hes trying to hook up with a femme fatale or simply dealing with lifes frustrations, his focus on minutia and insightful observations are hilarious. This is an artist who clearly knows how to entertain with great lyrics, catchy songs and a twisted point of view.
A singing storyteller, he brings you on a journey that feels like Disneylands Mr. Toads Wild Ride. Valenti effortlessly dodges the novelty marker by making his songs real and poignant. Like small vignettes set to music, they are as fascinating as they are compelling.
Chris Valenti is a multi-talented artist who once dressed as a giant penis and performed his entire repertoire on Santa Monica Boulevard. Hes also an actor/producer who wrote and starred in a feature film called Sensitive Johnson, a story about a premature ejaculator. As a musician Valenti is outstanding, but its his songwriting that shines the brightest. Clever and slightly crazed, his tunes are the perfect antidotes for these serious times.
- Bernard Baur, Music Connection
Chris's new CD - EMOTIONAL WRECK - can be purchased at www.cdbaby.com/cd/valenti3
Support The Wreckage!
FIRST REVIEW OF CD
Chris, o Chris,
Where were you, say, in 1986? This record could've saved me a lot of time & money back then.
I think this maybe ranks with Joni Mitchell's "Blue" as one of the best breakup records I've ever heard, but Joni didn't find her sense of humor until years later. I also notice the sequencing is vaguely reminiscent of the 5 (or was it 8?) Stages of Grief by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
I'll be adding it to New Releases next week -- of course with 6 of the 12 songs not FCC-friendly your best shot for airplay is between 10pm & 5:59am. I'd love to play "Don't Need You Anymore" for Xmas eve, but I'm on in the afternoon.
It's the kind of record that could become an underground classic years after you've moved on to other things, & then you might not see any money from it. I'd think you should send it as-is to Sirius & XM, maybe direct to Howard Stern, & then cleaned up or not to WFMU in New Jersey, to my pal Max Schmid at WBAI -- webcasters are free of censorship, and considering the subject matter, I can think of non-music magazines where you could advertise it for mail order. Hmmm.
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Matthew Finch, Music Director
KUNM-FM
Albuquerque, NM
Chris Valenti Singer Songwriter EmotionalWreck's Friend Space (Top 20)
Chris Valenti Singer Songwriter EmotionalWreck has 1562 friends.
I saw your head wound video. looked nasty Chris. I went to the beach too...scraped the skin off my big toe on a rock. it bled like crazy..I sealed it up during the bonfire. It just looks funny now. Ha. So how's the face healing up? And did you get your doctor's digits? huh you sly dog. ha kidding.
so, last night i got to have the awesome experience of going with shawna and tony (my sister and brother-in-law) to take my niece and nephew to their first concert - stevie wonder at the hollywood bowl. not too shabby!
in honor of this occasion, i'm asking all of my friends to comment me back with what *their* first concert was...and then you can stop by in a couple of days and read everyone's!
incidentally...shawna's was destiny's child, 'n sync and christina aguilera tickets that she won in an acting contest. mine was steppenwolf and the guess who with my dad when i was 11. tony's was stevie ray vaughan for his 9th birthday...his choice. his taste in music is as kickass as his taste in women! :D
Terrific set last night at the Improv. Congratulations! Rest of the line up was excellent too. Loved [first name]. So great to see [person I'm adding comment for] do so well at the [latest venue].
