Christopher Denny — If the Roses Don’t Kill Us

A voice like Christopher Denny’s only comes about once in a generation. I’m not just referring to Denny’s signature androgynous warble. Denny’s lived a hard life, to be sure, and that shows through on these songs. But they’re not what you’d expect — the kind of gruff, “I-did-it-my-way” anthems. These are careful, fragile ballads — a tentative approach to sobriety that I’m grateful I don’t need to experience.

Denny showcases his southern roots by focusing on a minimalist Southern soul sound. The effect is to cast him as a gospel preacher exhorting his audience in the art of salvation through somber meditation. It’s more “amen” than “hallelujah,” but that’s usually how life is.

Christopher Denny —Official, Facebook, Purchase from Partisan Records