Rob Christensen - all instruments (for the time being)
Influences
The Band, Beach Boys, Beatles, Belle & Sebastian, Book Of Kills, David Bowie, Blur, Buffalo Springfield, Byrds, Calexico, Neko Case, Elvis Costello, Creedence Clearwater Revival, CSNY, Curious Hair, Devotchka, Bob Dylan, East River Pipe, Fairport Convention, Holly Golightly, Gomez, Green, Husker Du, Iron & Wine, The Jam, Elton John, The Kinks, Let's Active, Long Ryders, Love, Lovin' Spoonful, The Mamas and the Papas, Barbara Manning, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Mother Hips, Motown, Bob Mould, Beth Orton, Pavement, Tom Petty, Lou Reed, R.E.M., Replacements, Richmond Fontaine, Rolling Stones, The Shins, Simon and Garfunkel, Sly and the Family Stone, Elliott Smith, The Smiths, The Smithereens, Bruce Springsteen, Richard Thompson, U2, Velvet Underground, Waxing Poetics, Paul Weller, The Who, World Party, Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3, X, XTC, Neil Young, and many, many more.
Sounds Like
Christensen is one of the best, most thought provoking singer-songwriters around. His voice has a world-weary, yet reassuring quality to it that makes me go back to his songs over and over. Even his most down-and-out, desolate tunes have a warm quality to them that make them quite inviting. - Ray Carmen, Reviews by Ray.
Opera Alley finds our hero in the mood for some classic pop-rock, a la Kinks, Beatles and Beach Boys... If Smile Slightly was Christensen's Blonde On Blonde, Opera Alley is his Planet Waves: an honest, heartfelt record by a superb songwriter with a straightforward appeal that will grow on you with every listen. - Jim Santo, www.demouniverse.com.
Rob is basically a one man band who plays all instruments, produces and records at his home and does it WELL. It will be interesting to hear what may be coming out next from this fine artist. - Bob Cooper, Portland On-Line Music Net.
Exceedingly jangly homepop informed by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Kinks, maybe Soul Asylum or The Replacements. - Ian C Stewart - AUTOreverse.
The Truth Hurts is Rob Christensen's second studio album. Christensen brings with him a very thoughtful- almost melancholy sound, laced with seemingly personal lyrics which at times is hauntingly familiar to Dylan (Blood On The Tracks- era) complete with harmonica breaks; at other times reminiscent of REM - particularly in his vocals. - Bob Cooper, Portland Online MusicNet
The Truth Hurts falls in that category between country, folk, and rock which sounds a little like each, but fits into none. The sound on the album recalls early American Music Club musically, flavored with Bob Dylan. - Megan Heller, AUTOreverse.
Christensen's gift for simple hooks makes this album (Smile Slightly) an easy one to immediately get into and enjoy even more for its upfront energy. -Brian Baker, Gajoob.
Fred Cornog, Jim Shelley, Shelley Blake...now let Rob Christensen into the lonely-lo-fi-home-recording-guy club. He's that good. - Jim Santo, www.demouniverse.com.
The Basics: Singer / songwriter / home-recordist currently residing in Washington, DC... Has released several albums on own micro-label, Sweet Science, and has performed solo acoustic shows in up and down both U.S. coasts and in England... Has received airplay on several American and European radio stations... Former columnist for Tape Op, the creative music recording magazine.
The Past: Has played in Humboldt County, California bands the Orphans, Joosy Froot, and Xeff Scolari's Acoustic Gypsies... First album was 1994's rough and tumble Smile Slightly... The Truth Hurts, released January 1997, was a sparse, acoustic-based album about relationships and how they sometimes don't work out the way we'd like. The album got excellent reviews and was compared to the likes of Bob Dylan, Mazzy Star, and one-man-band East River Pipe... Mostly solo live album, At The End Of The Day, was released in the Fall of 1999... Third studio album, Opera Alley, came out in June of 2000. Opera Alley's songs were inspired by the classic pop of the Kinks, Beatles, and Beach Boys, as well as old favorites Neil Young and R.E.M., and deal with crushes, male/female politics, disillusionment, and ultimately, optimism... Two West Coast solo-acoustic tours followed Opera Alley's release... Called “one of my greatest discoveries of the year 2000” by Belgian DJ Ray Pieters... 2001 was highlighted by a two-week East Coast tour, weekly shows at the cozy 321Coffee in Eureka, and the release of the rarities collection, I Hope You're Happy Now - The Thrift Store Series, vol. 1... In 2002, after a six-month stay in Portland, Oregon, living with Richmond Fontaine bassist Dave Harding, decided to go back to college to study to be an Elementary School teacher. Enrolled at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA, in January 2003 and completed studies in June of 2006. Despite releasing an album of new material, music was pretty much set-aside during this period... Roses For Sharon was released in April 2005. Roses, like Opera Alley, was inspired by sixties rock and pop, but this time a theme of escape runs through the songs. Escape from roots, negative situations, the past, and lost loves... Has moderated the Home Recording Workshops at the last four Tape Op (magazine) Conferences. These conferences are attended by some of the most talented and notable people in the music recording business, and the workshops have included the likes of Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi), Sam Coomes (Quasi, Elliott Smith), J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), Warn DeFever (His Name Is Alive), Jim Shelley (Book Of Kills), Anders Parker, Fred Cornog (East River Pipe), Charles Bissell (The Wrens), Howe Gelb, Nick Urata (DeVotchka), and Jon Rauhouse (Neko Case). Performed at the 2006 Tape Op Conference at Tucson’s Club Congress, on a bill that included American Music Club, M. Ward, and Cracker, among many others.
The Future: Plans for the next couple of years include recording the follow-up to Roses For Sharon, beginning to produce and record other artists, and a return to live performing - solo and with other musicians in various electric and acoustic combinations.
Christensen's fourth album of original material. More delicious homemade pop rocks from the acclaimed singer-songwriter. Songs include "A Simple Life", "Beautiful Soul", and eight more.
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Buy "Opera Alley" CD - $5.99
Third home-studio album, recorded once again in one-man-band fashion. Influenced by the Kinks, Beatles, Beach Boys, R.E.M., and Neil Young, among others. Features "Opera Alley", "Hollywood's Dreams", and eight other songs.
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Buy "The Truth Hurts" CD - $5.99
Christensen's critically-lauded second album. "Basically simple tunes with deeply inspired vocals with an uncluttered, straightforward acoustic and electric backing music." - Bob Cooper, POMN. Features "A Perfect Afternoon", "September Knows", and eight more.
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Buy "Smile Slightly" CD - $5.99
Debut album. Solitary rock and roll from a lonely bedroom. Features "So She Said", "These Days", and 10 other songs.
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How's your day going? I like your webpage. HOw hot is there? Its 109 in Garberville. Nascar's about to begin...it was good talking to you there other day on the phone. Have fun sleeping in!!! Soon, youwon't have the time to do that..you will be busy booking bands and traveling to europe without me...:(.
Hey man, what's up!!! Yeah, right back at ya. I might be up in the DC/Baltimore area in the fall once or twice. See you then, unless you come back to The Cave first!
Hallooooooooo! so how you doin'? Been a crazy mad amount of recording going on in the Fortress of Solitude here lately...the boys are finishing up a new album this weekend...sounds from the deep dark wet places of their minds...very
hope things are well with you...when you playing again? Deanne~*
hi rob thanks for the friends request – you’re added.! just letting new friends know there’s a free live download album on the cd page of my other site www.declanbennett.co.uk
Thanks for the add brother! Really enjoy your music as I am an intense music fan & audiophile. Your music is very refreshing ear candy! Have a great day.
Online Now!
