Album Review: Chris Locke Live At His Birthday

Uploaded on the Patreon for his Sonar Network podcast Happy Good, Chris Locke Live At His Birthday is an album more than worth the five dollars you’ll pay to gain early access to it. It might seem daunting to listen to the full 45 minutes uninterrupted, but Locke’s performance keeps you hooked throughout. If you don’t want to listen to it uncut, he’ll be releasing it as a fully cut album soon — you coward.

Part of the charm of Chris Locke is his ability to deliver a joke begrudgingly. He teases out his silly premises, grabbing our attention and pulling us into whatever loopy journey he’ll guide us through. The album is a compilation of sardonic secrets strung together by esoteric riffs and (surprisingly accurate) sound effects. Every beat of the album feels like it’s spinning out of control, but Locke keeps command.

This album is exhausting in the best way, and Locke has tapped into a style all his own. His persona lies somewhere between a bratty teen and a coquettish boy, and material that teeters between soft grumbling musings and long shouty screeds. Even though it’s an early access copy, Chris Locke Live At His Birthday could be released in its current form and no one would be mad.

Chris Locke Live At His Birthday was released November 30, 2020.
Listen to it here.

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