Chris Allen is the former lead singer, songwriter, heart and soul of the Cleveland-based band Rosavelt, who Paste Magazine calls a "first-rate chronicler of life's minor ups and downs," while the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted, "[Allen's] songs read like Raymond Carver short stories." He is at it again with his second solo effort, Things Unbroken, an 11 song rocker that takes his work into new sonic and emotional territory.
The new album is the follow up to his critically acclaimed solo debut Goodbye Girl and the Big Apple Circus (2006) that reached the Top 20 in the European Americana charts having been released overseas by Rosa Records. Cleveland Scene Magazine in their 2006 Best of Cleveland issue called it "the perfect soundtrack for the broken hearted", saying "Allen has a way with tales of longing and loss delivered in a gritty, baritone drawl."
Things Unbroken was once again produced by the legendary Don Dixon who's long list of credits include REM, Smithereens, Marshall Crenshaw, Counting Crowes and more. Allen also enlisted veteran drummer Will Rigby who has a founding member of the Db's and most recently has toured and recorded with Steve Earle on some his best work including Transcendental Blues and Jerusalem.
The album was recorded at the famed Suma Studios in Cleveland, OH by Paul Hamann who produced most of Pere Ubu's best work and just recorded the latest Black Keys album. It also features an eclectic mix of guests from bluesman Walkin' Cane, bluegrass specialist Tom Prebish, irish fiddler Francis Quinn and accomplished singer songwriter Marti Jones.
The end result is a timeless mix. Wrote Michael Galluci of Cleveland Scene Magazine, "Things Unbroken sounds like a classic rock record. It's power-chord riffs and gruff singing could have come from 1975, 1985 or 2008.
The album is being released by Bug Music Publishing on-line and is currently available world wide.
"[Allen's] songs read like Raymond Carver short stories."
Rob Cherry, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
