Christopher the Conquered - I'm Not That Famous Yet
Review by Jen Harris
Jazz music is written on roots and ideals; morals of a bygone era and principles that may seem old- fashioned to my generation. But there’s that raw honesty in jazz music—the deep and scarred honesty that hits emotional home runs every single time you listen. And in a generation where most of what is played on the radio sounds more or less the same, Christopher the Conquered is a welcome surprise.
Upon first listen, I was a skeptic; the EP cover for I’m Not Famous… Yet is a simulated free-hand of Christopher’s head on a piano-key-collar sporting a blank stare and it’s the kind of look that sees straight through your bullshit and your airs and gets right down into the deepest parts of you that you don’t want people to know. I judged the book by its cover. And then I hit play.
You can understand why I immediately assumed that Christopher the Conquered was going to rip me apart from the way I was feeling about the cover art. I actually listened to the whole EP twice before sitting down to write out how I felt because I wasn’t sure what was brewing inside my head. Here was the inkling of surprise, the pleasant kind; there was a religious strain that touched my Methodist heart; some of the lyrics sounded so innocent and sweet, bringing a smile to my skeptical face. After some time to soak it in, and a lot of research about Christopher, I have to say that the EP is well worth it.
These four songs are all varied in their tempo, their meaning, their sound; I love the originality in that. “What’s The Name Of That Town?” starts the album off with an blue-sy jazz feel and “I’m Not That Famous Yet” brings us to a close with slow, sultry piano chords that pull at the heart. You can feel the religious undertones in Christopher’s lyrics as well as the music he writes; many times during this EP I had visions of stained glass and crowds in the midst of praise. Song three, “On My Final Day”, is the kind of song that I expected saxophones and a choir to break out during a soulful chorus—and Christopher didn’t disappoint! But if I had to pick a favorite, and I always do, “God Plays the Tenor Saxophone” would be it. It’s the embodiment of feel-good jazz meets danceable swing that had be shaking in my swivel chair. Once again you can see that church played a very important part of Christopher’s upbringing.
This is the kind of music that even my grandmother would enjoy—maybe not on repeat for an hour, but as it hits highs and lows, jazz and blues, it speaks to her generation. In a world of techno and constant repetition of lyrics, Christopher the Conquered reminds us that originality is a thing and let’s each song surprise the listener. It’s a beautiful concept, don’t you think? I for one plan to take a minute to delve back into the sweetness of I’m Not Famous… Yet and let it move me. I highly recommend it.
Upon first listen, I was a skeptic; the EP cover for I’m Not Famous… Yet is a simulated free-hand of Christopher’s head on a piano-key-collar sporting a blank stare and it’s the kind of look that sees straight through your bullshit and your airs and gets right down into the deepest parts of you that you don’t want people to know. I judged the book by its cover. And then I hit play.
You can understand why I immediately assumed that Christopher the Conquered was going to rip me apart from the way I was feeling about the cover art. I actually listened to the whole EP twice before sitting down to write out how I felt because I wasn’t sure what was brewing inside my head. Here was the inkling of surprise, the pleasant kind; there was a religious strain that touched my Methodist heart; some of the lyrics sounded so innocent and sweet, bringing a smile to my skeptical face. After some time to soak it in, and a lot of research about Christopher, I have to say that the EP is well worth it.
These four songs are all varied in their tempo, their meaning, their sound; I love the originality in that. “What’s The Name Of That Town?” starts the album off with an blue-sy jazz feel and “I’m Not That Famous Yet” brings us to a close with slow, sultry piano chords that pull at the heart. You can feel the religious undertones in Christopher’s lyrics as well as the music he writes; many times during this EP I had visions of stained glass and crowds in the midst of praise. Song three, “On My Final Day”, is the kind of song that I expected saxophones and a choir to break out during a soulful chorus—and Christopher didn’t disappoint! But if I had to pick a favorite, and I always do, “God Plays the Tenor Saxophone” would be it. It’s the embodiment of feel-good jazz meets danceable swing that had be shaking in my swivel chair. Once again you can see that church played a very important part of Christopher’s upbringing.
This is the kind of music that even my grandmother would enjoy—maybe not on repeat for an hour, but as it hits highs and lows, jazz and blues, it speaks to her generation. In a world of techno and constant repetition of lyrics, Christopher the Conquered reminds us that originality is a thing and let’s each song surprise the listener. It’s a beautiful concept, don’t you think? I for one plan to take a minute to delve back into the sweetness of I’m Not Famous… Yet and let it move me. I highly recommend it.
