Polish is something learned from experience and earned from success. Chris Antonik’s second cd, Better For You, has plenty of polish
And why not? And that’s not just because it’s been named Best Canadian Blues-Rock Album of 2013 by Canada’s Blues Underground Network, and Album of the Year by U.S. music magazine Rust.
It’s because this cd has a bluesy rock sound that makes you sit up and pay attention. You’re captured from the first note.
This is Antonik’s second cd after his first self-titled cd earned him a nomination for best new artist at the Maple Blues Awards. There are plenty of highlights that make this a must-have cd.
The first song, A Long Way To Go, sets the tone with some soaring guitar solos by Chris and some honking harp playing by Steve Marriner of MonkeyJunk
The second song Turn to Shine features Josh Williams of Fat Cats taking the lead vocal duty. It’s such a tight, well-structured tune, you’d swear the Allman Brothers were guesting.
And speaking of guesting, Shakura S’Aida drops in and lends her smooth voice to more great riffs from Chris on Come from A Good Place.
By then you’re hooked. The rest of the songs just keep rolling out in waves and you can’t stop yourself from hiking the volume up.
Mike Mattison of Tedeschi-Trucks fame belts it out on Broken Man and there’s the haunting title track, Better For You, with Chris melding his voice to some of best blues guitar you’ll ever hear.
With all the great guest artists, you’d think they might overshadow the cd. But the best moments come when Chris steps front and center and wails away on guitar. It’s sweet and riveting at the same time.
Confidence is all over this cd, and that describes Chris in so many ways . Catch him live and you’ll discover he’s a down-to-earth guy who’s serious about his music. He enjoys playing in front of an audience and makes the audience feel part of the music.
So many artists never seem to live up to their albums. Chris does.
Get the cd, catch him live. You’ll love every minute of Chris Antonik.