CHRISTOPHER JAK: Applause Of The Rain

Christopher Jak

Applause Of The Rain

© 2003 440 Records Llc (751937225720)

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

This modern pop/folk singer-songwriter draws you in with intelligent lyrics and hooking melodies carved from acoustic driven bits of life; "chill living room music with a reading lamp and an oriental rug against the backdrop of an evening cityscape".

tracks

1 Hold On Tight
2 Squeeze
3 The Swimmer
4 Come On With Me
5 Day Past a Child
6 Angel Like Me
7 Obsession
8 This Time
9 I Don't Know What You're Thinking
10 Old Scars

notes

Of all the acts I've seen, I've never been so inspired after a show as to immediately write a review months before I'd even had a place to publish it.

When I got home from watching Christopher Jak and his band at Archer's last month, I was in awe. I wrote two pages about how this pop/folk band was going to break the scene wide open. It wasn't that one beer talking. Nor was it the second. It was the thought that the next John Mayer or Pete Yorn was playing in my hometown to nobody on a weekday. Somebody's got to bust him out of here. Why has nobody heard of this guy?

It wasn't loud rocking rhythms and screaming guitars. It was chill living room music with a reading lamp and an Oriental rug against the backdrop of an evening cityscape. And, the lamp and rug were only in my mind. There was something about the ambiance created by the players. The audience was welcome. At home. My only regret was I couldn't take the music home and listen to it again. Not then.

In the recording process, he has cut no corners. "I brought in a lot of great players," says Jak. "Jason from Big Black Cadillac is on bass, he's just a fantastic player; Ross Martin played guitar on a lot of stuff; Mark Raines did about half of the drums, he's a great jazz drummer from Denver; Brian McRae, the former drummer from the Freddie Jones Band did the really rockin' drums."

Jak jokes, "It's pretty self indulgent. There's really nothing more like sonic masturbation than having your song backed by a big string symphony. We brought in strings and wrote the parts--basically had a quartet set up and then looped them over."

Jeremy Lawton produced the album. "He's really the guy for mixing and producing around here. We just had a ball. I wanted to strangle him several times; he was ready to never work with me again several times. It was really great."

He has been singing since childhood, and playing guitar since high school. "When I was a kid I was in a professional boy choir, we toured a lot of the year and did shows at Carnegie Hall with the NY Phil . We were always out there with the symphony guys, and they would all say the same thing, don't stay in music unless there is nothing else that you are capable of doing."

"I would pick it up for a while, and then let it fall away for a few years. I didn't see a clear path. And, sometimes you just don't want to mill around. But, you don't know where to go next. So, you do something else," he says.

This time it's only picking up. There is no more falling way.

-TIM HANAUER, SCENE MAGAZINE

reviews

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  • It's Good.
    author: Kyle

    Great album. Great music. I actually thought it was a little different style of music, and so expected that style, but was HAPPILY surprised when I popped it in and it was different than expected, yet still an outstanding album.

  • Brilliant! Mood altering! Better than John Mayer!
    author: Elissa

    Like John Mayer? You'll LOVE Jak. Top notch song writing, excellent production, this CD is worn out I've played it so much. I keep buying it and giving it as gifts to friends who are also now hooked. Can't wait for the new release coming out April 05! I need a new Jak fix! Don't even think about it. Buy it. You'll love it. You'll be hooked, too.

  • Xavierism says...
    author: Xavierism

    This CD is contagious to the soul! Good music, great lyrics and songs. Christopher Jak's "Hold on Tight" is simply a song that makes you feel good...actually, all of his songs do! Just give him a try!Xavier, Xavier@Xavierism.com

  • Brilliant
    author: Amanda

    This album accomplishes what most cannot: it digs deep down into your soul and delivers feelings and ideas that you never knew you had. It makes you want to take a new look at certain aspects of things such as relationships and life. It just makes you smile the kind of smile that comes when you suddenly feel something. This album is good for the soul.

  • Good stuff
    author: mike

    Very good CD! great vocals

  • author: CD Baby

    John mayer, Chris isaak and Pete Yorn caught up in a swirl of sound, wind carrying the full bodied, electro-acoustic resonance through rolling landscapes, shaking the evergreens and leaving an imprint on some remote beach..somewhere on the shores of a heart in pieces. Proud, heartfelt, and emotionally-invested, this man knows how to sketch a beautiful plot,then toss his colorful harmonies to the magic of inspiration, letting the rise and fall of the song's breathing catch and carry the lightness and darkness it calls for. A gentle but stout, sensitive male folky pop album. Something like flannel folk.

  • A warm, lingering musical experience
    author: Duane

    Many moons ago a friend saw an artist playing in a small venue in San Francisco. I had never heard of her before. He sent me a CD; I listened to it once. The CD was good. It didn't blow me away, but I found myself humming the melodies - all the time; I could not get them out of my head. They were soothing, with a good beat and great lyrics. The songs grew on me. About a year later I started hearing the artist on the radio, "All I wanna do is have some fun..." I kept announcing to all my friends that this is the artist I've been telling them about for a year, this chick named, Sheryl Crow. Christopher Jak reminds me of Crow in many ways. The music is intelligent, romantic, haunting and gentle. Jak blends perfectly Rocky Mountain Country and Blue Ridge Folk with American Pop. The result is a warm, lingering musical experience. There is something positive to say about every song. I hope there is more to hear from this artist.

  • The Bombsauce
    author: Camie Andersen

    This disk is so awesome - very versatile in tempo and creative lyrics - I absolutely love it and look forward to hearing more from him.

  • A star should be shown
    author: C.J. Fox

    This CD has heart, soul and a lot of wonderful lyrics. Listen to it for a minute, and you're sucked in to it's beauty.

  • pretty good stuff
    author: Carrie

    Christopher Jak has a great voice and I'm glad he decided to record it! This cd has been in my car stereo since the day it arrived. The melodies are catchy and I love the twinge of country I hear! I love the image of Angels on Broadway...my favorite song on the album!

  • Excellent CD !!!
    author: Todd

    Outstanding lyrics, vocals, and overall musicianship. Highly recommended!!!

  • AWESOME!!!
    author: Becky

    This album is well-written and even more well-performed. The songs are catchy and Christopher has a great voice. Everyone should have this CD in their player. Can't wait for another album!

  • Listen up , folks...
    author: Kulmagen

    Just gotta say - one of the best albums of the year is here... Great songs and a superb production... Enjoy this wonderful cd with your girlfriend or with a glas of good-tasting red wine !!!

  • author: Kulmagen

    Just gotta say - one of the best albums of the year is here... Great songs and a superb production... Enjoy this wonderful cd with your girlfriend or with a glas of good-tasting red wine !!!

  • Yippie freekin hallaballooo... This is pure modern singer songwriter
    author: Pär Winberg

    Yippie freekin hallaballooo... This is pure modern singer songwriter heaven for all you lovers of melodic refrain madness. Imagine a vibe of Jude Cole, Troy Newman, Bebo Norman, John Mayer and Burlap To Cashmere and... well you can imagine the rest... The album starts out in a fantastic way. First out you have the straight ahead rocker "Hold On Tight" and second out you have the amazing "Squeeze" that could have been on the last Troy Newman album or one of the hits from John Mayers latest album. Third out "The Swimmer" smells Burlap To Cashmere a long way and fifth out, the melancholic and acoustic driven "Day Past A Child" is a real charmer as well. And then we have the voice of the guy. Phew. Just right up the valley of Mr Winberg's taste!!! Nah, folks, it's unnecessary to sit here and write more superlatives. If you like me, adore this side of the music-scene do yourself a favour and buy yourself a copy of this CD today. I know that I'm weak for this kinda music, and I'm sure damn proud and happy for that.

  • Excellent!
    author: Tony Graham (CD BABY ARTIST)

    Great CD! Fantastic vocals and profound lyrics blended with perfect music. Very impressive. A must buy album!

  • Smooth as Silk...
    author: Nick

    This is probably the best cd I have bought in over a year. From the moment I popped it in the player in my car I thought, "This CD rocks!!" Many thanks to Christopher for making great music that I will proudly share w/others.

  • A gentle but stout, sensitive male folky pop album.
    author: Tamara Turner, Music Editor/Reviewer at CD Baby.com

    John mayer, Chris isaak and Pete Yorn caught up in a swirl of sound, wind carrying the full bodied, electro-acoustic resonance through rolling landscapes, shaking the evergreens and leaving an imprint on some remote beach..somewhere on the shores of a heart in pieces. Proud, heartfelt, and emotionally-invested, this man knows how to sketch a beautiful plot,then toss his colorful harmonies to the magic of inspiration, letting the rise and fall of the song's breathing catch and carry the lightness and darkness it calls for. A gentle but stout, sensitive male folky pop album. Something like flannel folk.

  • What a great cd!
    author: Brendan

    WOW! Very moving music. This guy is much more talented than the likes of Mayer, Howie Day and others! Buy this one!

  • Say you knew him when
    author: clamshoppppe

    This CD is phenomenal and worth every penny and more. Great lryics, great sounds - everything you can ask for. This guy is going to be big- he has the look and the voice. If you like John Mayer, Pat McGee, Jack Johnson, Marc Broussard, Ari Hest, etc. than you'll like this CD.

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