He may shudder at the comparison (like, don't call him Rufus), but we like to think of Chris Garneau as everything we wish Damien Rice actually was: reveling in distraught, heart-wrenching cello-laden tunes with both authenticity and -- this is huge -- a bit of perspective. Life is sad, yes, and when blessed with a wispy, plaintive voice and fluid piano skills, there's a lot there to mine. But Chris hints at hope throughout the excellent Music ForTourists, not to mention a classically keen sense for composition (enter Rufus) and Buckley in the voicebox, both in his breathy and vibrato fueled ("Black & Blue") moments. Consider this, the album's lead track, a great intro to this promising, young Brooklyn-based songwriter. For fans of Doveman.
Chris Garneau - "Castle-Time" (MP3)
If you want more, head to MySpace -- and if you're in NYC, catch him TONIGHT at Tonic.
Music For Tourists is out on Absolutely Kosher.
