colored vinyl / 180 gram
The prince's actual name is Christoph and he comes from Switzerland. He will be performing at this year's Static Roots Festival and I'm already looking forward to the band's flawless country rock.
In his own words: “Introducing Prinz Grizzley's upcoming album "Dear Leftovers", a collection that delves into the lives of the forgotten figures of society through heartfelt country music. From deeply personal stories to reflections on relationships gone sour, each track offers a glimpse into the periphery of existence. The evocative lyrics paint vivid portraits of individuals grappling with love, loss, and the complexities of life. With soul-stirring melodies and raw storytelling, "Dear Leftovers" promises to resonate with listeners who appreciate the depth and authenticity of country music. Stay tuned for an emotional journey through the margins of society with Prinz Grizzley's latest musical endeavor.“
"Emerging from the picturesque landscapes of a small mountain village in western Austria, Chris Comper, known by his stage name Prinz Grizzley, first caught our attention with his band, The Beargaroos, at the Kilkenny Roots Festival in 2017. A relatively unknown artist at the time, he quickly made a name for himself there, performing six shows and solidifying his position in the Americana genre. Since then, he has graced stages at prestigious events like AmericanaFest in Nashville, SXSW in Austin, and Static Roots in Oberhausen, where he is set to perform again in July this year. His latest offering, DEAR LEFTOVERS, is a self-produced gem, marking his seventh studio album, the first four having been recorded with his indie rock band, Golden Reef. Anyone with culinary skills and even the most celebrated cooks marvel at the challenge of creating dishes from leftover food. Celebrity chefs have dedicated books to its challenge and the ultimate rewards. Musically, Comper has taken on a similar mission with this latest project, using songs initially written for his 2020 album TO MY GREEN GARDEN HOME and remodelling and reworking them for this eleven-track record. Credited with writing up to fifty songs a year, it's little surprise that Comper had a war chest of previously written songs to draw from. However, to even his surprise, many of the songs that didn't suit his last album had a common thread of broken and falling apart relationships. Using that concept for the album has resulted in a consistent flow of songs that shift comfortably between country-influenced shuffles and unhurried ballads.
Trucker Love is a raucous helping of cowpunk, and Comper's reverence for Credence Clearwater Revival rings true on the jaunty toe tappers Got Nothing To Prove and Wicked Heart. The album's country shuffles in the lower gears are exceptionally high points, where Comper's booming vocals and Johannes Bischof's pedal steel playing earn the laurels. The looming heartbreak expressed in Where Did We Go Wrong, Watch The Embers, Don't Blame Me For Loving You and Much Too Sober hit the bullseye in that respect, all depicting classic tears in your beer scenarios.
DEAR LEFTOVERS may get planted in the Americana pigeonhole, but make no mistake, it is Comper's most complete 'country' album to date. That may be by design or simply down to the subject matter of broken or about-to-be-broken hearts. Either way, it is packed with lonesome and lamenting lyrics, slick lines and chords, and it is a body of work with 'career finest' stamped all over it." (Lonesome Highway/Declan Culliton)
