Robert Ellis is the kind of songwriter who only comes along once in a great while. With his first two albums, a promise was made. With his new record, ‘The Lights from the Chemical Plant’ that promise has been delivered and fully realized.
At least that’s what the biography says, two paragraphs in on his very own website, and on listening to that album, I would have to agree.
I was first introduced to Ellis through his cover of the George Jones classic, ‘The Grand Tour’ – I know what I’ll sound like if I say “he really makes this song his own” but the truth is, he does and all by himself too. Just him a Gibosn SJ-200.
He references Jones as the single greatest influence on his work, but listening to the 2014 release ‘The Lights from the Chemical Plant’ you can see others who have made an impact – Clint Black especially in the opener, ‘TV Song’, Jim Croce in ‘Good Intentions’ and in parts, Doug Paisley, especially on ‘Only Lies’.
You think “George Jones,” “Clint Black,” and “Jim Croce” and you think of artists who’s hay-day was the 1970s, 80s and 90s but Ellis’ work is very much of and for today.
This is as much of a hybrid folk and county album as you are going to get, with a delightful cover version of the Simon and Garfunkel classic, ‘Still Crazy After All These Years.’
The liveliest track comes towards the end of the album, ‘Sing Along’ and is what you might expect from a man of his upbringing – you know the craic – the son of a preacher (Aren’t they all?) who hails from Texas but has spent much of his time as a musician in Nashville. There he worked under the guidance of Jacquire King who has produced amongst others, Tom Waits, Josh Ritter, Dawes and Of Monsters and Men.
Discovering Ellis has given me as much delight as when I first came across Doug Paisley or Sturgill Simpson and for me that’s decent enough company.