Chris Murray Combo

Buckle Up (2015)

I withdraw my question.

Let’s face it, ska has a limited audience, and when you take out the rowdy punk element of the genre, and focus on the most authentic, stripped down roots version, the audience becomes even more slim. And that’s fine, because the people who want to hear raw ska are rewarded by those passionate enough to honorably continue the genre’s legacy.

It pains me more people, as a whole, don’t know about Chris Murray, rightfully deemed, community-wide, as the “acoustic ska legend.” We can bring up the Canadian-born, California-residing artist’s other claim to underground fame, King Apparatus, but nothing can compare to his solo material. Sometimes he is accompanied by The Slackers, and others, like on this latest December 2015 release, Buckle Up; he partners with a limited backing band under the title Chris Murray Combo, in order to add a rhythm section to his therapeutically soothing acoustic presentation.

“The Voice You Never Hear” immediately delves into one’s internal monologue riding against the outside world, a constant tense energy of sorts, permanently embedded in rationale. Murray’s relaxed, crisp, mellow voice seeps out  and continues to drift across all tracks. Music that calms the nerves, but sharply crafts thought provoking lyrics about peace, love, war, and all of life’s ups and downs in between.

But mostly love. Whether you’re in it, out of it, want it, or need it, there’s a song to match. The chasing, upbeat, romantic feel tops out on title track “Buckle Up,” a catchy tune about the desire of rushing into intimacy. Then comes heartbreak, and a lot of it. “Toothbrush” lifts once tender memories invoked from something so small as a loved one’s toothbrush sitting in the sink, while “Forget Your Love” battles to disavow what once was.

Never fear, life will not not always be an empty void of affection. “Little Bit of Love” and “What Will Come” bring a sense of hope, exerting one’s self to push ever so slightly in a positive direction in echoed uncertainty to yield great things, and brings into question motivation when opportunity arises, respectively. Two pick-me-up tracks to add to your PMA playlists.

“Ain’t No Joke Bein’ Broke” is a blunt and memorable track of financial hardship, lightened by upstroke. “Guns and Gold” is another prime cut, catchy and crammed with guest-laden oohs and big harmonies; both tracks showing off the benefit of diverse sounds with additional artists involved.

Chris Murray has a way of lifting the heaviest of spirits and putting the mind at ease, even with life’s most difficult and personal problems shared across emotional states. Buckle Up demonstrates the full spectrum of love, taking one word, one feeling, and looking at it from numerous perspectives. Murray’s ability to focus on specific sentiments and extract their meaning through self reflection and implement it universally through music continues to be extraordinary. Buckle up, come on, let’s go, give this album a spin and have the acoustic ska work through your emotions.