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June 21, 2012 / Chris Klaxton

Chris Weisman - Message From Work [Autumn; 2011]

Weisman signals change. His presence warms up the cold winters and provides the necessary breeze in the hot of summer. It’s no wonder Greg Davis continues to release Weisman’s output via his aptly named Autumn Records. But the bigger appeal to Weisman is how effortlessly he blends the many variations of pop into one accessible package of underground know-how and independent spirit.

Message From Work continues the simple pleasures of Transparency; Weisman largely relying on his acoustic guitar, quaint melodies, and quiet harmonies. Weisman’s lyrical prowess is perhaps the biggest point of his music. Words become everyday fairy tales, whether singing about the pleasures of playing an acoustic guitar (“Acoustic Guitar”), dreams and death (“Feature Dana”), or love (“Palimpsest”). The only shock is closer “Woman of Bidi,” a fantastic 30-minute electric guitar change-up that breaks down songwriting into its most basic component. Nearly an album onto itself, “Woman of Bidi” feels like freedom of summer, not like the complacency of winter.

Weisman is truly a man of all seasons, and Message From Work proves that no matter the temperature or the color of the sky, pure pop beauty transcends environment and encapsulates any mood.

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