Tall City

There is a fine line separating insanity and genius, though I do not know where we will find Chris Bullock.

Initially, I could not find any reason to listen to more than 20 seconds of Colorado Springs'/Manitou Springs' Tall City. That was two years ago, what can I say? I was naive.

His monotone vocal delivery, seemingly repetitive chord progressions and strumming patterns, and deceptively brash lyrics, undoubtedly alienate some of Tall City's unsuspecting listeners. It should come to no surprise that he is notorious for clearing a room, including the headlining artist. Though, if Riskay can sing about 'smelling dick' and draw a crowd, then Chris should surely be able to sing blasphemes prose about Mother Mary without losing his audience.

If his magical autoharp is just too much for you, try sampling his tracks 'Soft Sunlight,' 'Headlights in the Driveway,' or 'Motel Room Mirror,' where Chris creates an interesting fusion with electronic sounds and beats and his urban-cowboy poetics. If you have never heard any electronic-western-folk-pop before then here's your chance.

But if you can't find yourself tapping a toe, nodding your head, or doing an artsy interpretative dance, do not fret - you are not alone; Tall City creates many love/hate relationships with his audience. Though, maybe you should, because chances are you listen to Chris Brown and Lil' Wayne, or Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus.

Having had the pleasure of playing with Tall City several times at various venues in the downtown area, I must say that I never fail to imagine myself sitting at a camp fire, with a can of beans, in Wyoming, listening to coyotes howl and the echo-ing strum of an autoharp.



Casiotone For the Painfully Alone, Bright Eyes, WHY?, Joanna Newsom, The Robot Ate Me