Chris Knox

[monster]

I think this story is worthy of a mention. Chris Knox is a Kiwi musician and artist who was one of the foundation acts and an influential figure on the seminal Kiwi indie label Flying Nun. Chris’s music came to us through the low-fi recordings of his bands The Enemy, Toy Love, and The Tall Dwarfs, as well as his solo work. He was also the creator of wonderfully weird and idiosyncratic “home-made” videos.

 

In June this year Chris suffered debilitating a stroke. There is more info about Chris and this recovery since the stroke in these stories.

 

Blog on the Tracks

 

Public address

 

As a tribute to Chris, an impressive lineup of musicians/fans have teamed up to record an albums worth of their takes of Chris’s songs. There are contributions from Jay Reatard, Yo la Tengo, Lambchop, Stephin Merritt, AC Newman, Will “Bonny Prince Billy” Oldham, The Verlaines, The Chills, and numerous others.

 

You can listen to the tracks here:

 

Songs for Chris Knox

 

There are some great interpretations of his songs on the album, and I don’t think there’s a real dud on the whole thing so it’s hard to pick favorites, but standouts for me are the tracks from David Kilgour, The Mint Chicks, Will Oldham, AC Newman and Yo La Tengo. Not sure of plans for release outside NZ, but some great music and a good cause, so well worth checking out I reckon

[GtrPlyr]

I'm a fan of his solo stuff--play "Meat" quite often--as well as some of the Tall Drawfs stuff. I didn't hear about the stroke, thanks for the links so I can catch up on what's going on.

[Plumplechook]

Chris Knox is a icon of the NZ indie music scene. It's great the way local and international musisicians have lent their support with this fantastic tribute/benefit album. See full track listing below.

 

There was also a touching tribute paid at the Pearl Jam concert here in Auckland last Friday night when Neil and Liam Finn joined Eddie Vedder on stage during the encore for a performance of the Chris Knox classic 'Not Given Lightly'.

 

 

 

Stroke – Songs For Chris Knox’ – Track Listing

 

YELLOW DISC

Track 1 – Pull Down The Shades – Jay Reatard

Track 2 – Rebel – The Checks

Track 3 - Ain’t It Nice – The Bleeding Allstars

Track 4 – Don’t Catch Fire – Peter Gutteridge

Track 5 – Luck Or Loveliness – The Chills

Track 6 – Nothing’s Going to Happen – David Kilgour

Track 7 – All My Hollowness To You – The Crying Wolfs

Track 8 – Beauty – Stephin Merritt

Track 9 - Nostalgia’s No Excuse – Portastatic

Track 10 – Crush – The Mint Chicks

Track 11 – I’ve Left Memories Behind – Jay & Sam Clarkson

Track 12 – Burning Blue – Sky Green Leopards

Track 13 – The Slide – Shayne Carter

Track 14 - Grand Mal – Pumice

 

BONUS TRACK

Track 15 – Knoxed Out - Hamish Kilgour

 

 

BLACK DISC

Track 1 – Not Given Lightly – Boh Runga

Track 2 – Bodies – Red&Zeke featuring Bill Doss and Neil Cleary.

Track 3 – Lapse – Bill Callahan

Track 4 – Growth Spurt – Genghis Smith

Track 5 – Coloured – Yo La Tengo

Track 6 – Dunno Much about Life But I know How To Breathe – AC Newman

Track 7 – Glide – Alec Bathgate

Track 8 – Inside Story – Don McGlashan

Track 9 – The Outer Skin – Sean Donnelly

Track 10 – What Goes Up – Lambchop

Track 11- Brave – The Mountain Goats

Track 12 – Round These Walls – The Tokey Tones (and friends)

Track 13 – Just Do It – The Bats

Track 14 – My Only Friend – Will Oldham

Track 15 – It’s Love – Neil Finn/Liam Finn

Track 16 – Becoming Something Other – Jordan Luck

Track 17- Driftwood – The Verlaines

Track 18 Song of the Tall Poppy – Lou Barlow

 

BONUS TRACKS -

Track 19– Napping In Lapland – The Nothing

Track 20 – Sunday Song – Tall Dwarfs

[monster]

Pitchfork quite like it.....

 

 

Pitchfork review

[tinnitus photography]

it's a really good record. i definitely think people should get a copy.