CHRIS VELAN plays Lee’s Palace Thursday (June 16) at 9 pm See listing, the Painted Lady Friday (June 17) at 10 pm See listing, and the Dakota Saturday (June 18) at 8 pm See listing as part of NXNE. Rating: NNN
Montrealer Chris Velan was on the road while writing much of his fourth album, and that comes out in lyric references to distance, time and identity. Produced by Lestyn Polson (David Bowie, David Gray) in upstate New York, the album features Velan’s high, sweet, Jack Johnson-like voice backed by layers of overdubs. Sometimes the synths are too much.
The big production works best on the Wilcoesque Oceans Ago and You Don’t Know (What You’re Asking Of Me). A summery ukulele nod to the Grateful Dead opens the album, Interrogate Me has a reggae vibe, and There Goes Sara is a radio-friendly love song. The songwriting is uneven, but Velan is onto something when he channels Paul Simon on Same Clothes.
Top track: Oceans Ago
