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Writing
on Razzmatazz:
It’s
rare to hear an artist exposing his thoughts, observations,
and himself, in such a simple and direct manner. This album
has moved me more than any other I have heard this year,
more than that I cannot say… - Shakenstir
Subversively
and sublimely, he has managed to create songs that propel
the listener to rethink ideas, reconsider past notions,
and get moved in the process. The way Hickey creates songs
as reckoning media can only be compared favorably to the
work of the greatest living songwriters, such as Bob Dylan,
Sufjan Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Mark Eitzel, Sam Phillips,
and Tom Waits. Like these other artists, Hickey doesn’t
censor himself and restrict his output to positive, uplifting
songs. He focuses on questions and on the meaning of existence.
- Puddlegum
"Razzmatazz"
is one of my favorite discs of the year and was one of the
most pleasant suprises of 2009. - Hickory
Wind
Hickey
is not one to waste a note or let any kind of studio noodling
interfere with the force of his words. And increasingly
throughout his career, he has devoted the power of his words
not to the big idea but to the expansive poignancy of the
small things. - Rambles
What
puts his music over the top are his concise and revealing
lyrics and his plaintive, matter-of-fact vocals... Hickey
is a very special artist, who combines intellectual depth
with emotional resonance and well-crafted music to accompany
his lyrics. - Hablo
Ennui
Tonight,
I rescued what I reckon is a loose diamond from my Spam
folder... Kerouac, an understated, tongue-twisting paean
to the unwitting and ill-equipped face of the "Beat
Generation... For his latest, Razzmatazz, Hickey summoned
the muses of low-fi accidents and general providence, composing
and recording 16 skeletal songs on a digital voice recorder
in the comfort of his South Pasadena bedroom. - My
Old Kentucky Blog
I
strongly suggest getting into Hickey's music, for it is
as beautiful, moving, and sad as a simple gift from your
little brother on Christmas Day. - The
Mad Ones
One
highlight of Razzmatazz (among many) is Hickey’s tribute
to Jack Kerouac. He says, “I’ve only recently
discovered Kerouac and I agree with Allen Ginsberg when
he said that Kerouac’s work is ‘The most sincere
and holy writing I know of our age.’” Hickey
does the man justice with “Kerouac”. - Owl
and Bear
Songwriter
Chris Hickey Goes On Kerouac-Inspired Writing Spree -- “It’s
a satisfying thing,” says Hickey. “I think this
is my favorite of my records because it’s a simple
and true reflection of where I am… in my bedroom,
faraway from the record business, and faraway from the art
of complication.” - American
Songwriter
I
absolutely love it. - Beat
Generation
Chris
Hickey makes beautiful lyrically rich, wonderfully simple
music. - Gonzo
Shots
Hickey
used nothing but his own voice and guitar, recording the
entire album in a bedroom using a hand-held voice recorder.
The effect is nothing short of haunting. - Shaking
Like A Mountain
I've
been waiting for Chris Hickey's new CD Razzmatazz to be
released; it's here, and it's as wonderful and sly as his
best work, both solo and w/ Show Of Hands. Chris is an underappreciated
treasure, and "Kerouac" off the album is a lo-fi
beauty. - The
Recluse Show Blog
There
is something extraordinarily appealing about the simplicity
of these arrangements. - Music
Induced Euphoria
Razzmatazz
is a fascinating, entertaining, engrossing album that allows
access to the unfiltered workings of a musician’s
writing process. - Independent
Clauses
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