Chris Acker is best known for his husky tone and absurd lyricism, often intertwined with raw passion and thought-provoking realism. The first glimpse of Acker’s new record came in the form of ‘Shit Surprise’, a playful track that dances between the lines of self-deprecation and a longing for an evasive love. Unlike the title of the first single, Famous Lunch is anything but a shit surprise – it’s a collection of honest, thoughtful and at times heart-warming tunes that whisper their way into the subconscious and leave the listener connecting with the material in ways very few country singers are able to master.
Making music is often like letting the entire world read from your personal journal, it’s integral to the story you’re telling to remember everything about the scene you’re trying to convey. Acker’s sometimes jarring descriptions paint a picture so vivid that’s it’s impressive, a personal favourite is “peanut butter on his wedding ring” from the second track ‘Stubborn Eyes’ – on the surface there’s not much cause for a line like that, but essentially it exemplifies Acker’s ability to depict a scene for his audience that is unique to the story he’s telling. It would be a cop out for an artist of Acker’s lyrical integrity to pen a line that you can find in every country song ever written, instead you’ll hear the unblemished truth. The average music critic shouldn’t underestimate Acker’s talent for turning the mundane into eccentric excellence, a line such as “softer than thinking about new socks” will likely be glossed over by most casual listeners, but in an era of music that often repeats the same sentiments with the same exhausted formula, it’s refreshing to hear somebody examine love and human emotion through an alternative scope.
Now, whilst I’m keen to compliment the many assets of this record, there are a couple of tracks that don’t go anywhere particularly enthusing, ‘Bunn Machine’ being one of the aforementioned additions. The writing is still witty and structurally the track is on form, but Acker is at his best when he sings of a subject matter that is evidently close to his heart and when he isn’t, certain moments are forgettable. That doesn’t mean to say they’re unworthy of being on the record, ‘Bunn Machine’ is still interesting both instrumentally and in terms of harmonies, which the singer has conquered quite beautifully.
‘Wouldn’t Do For You (Buddy)’ is a highlight from Famous Lunch, it strips away just enough of the humorous Acker persona to give insight into his vulnerability and charm without sacrificing his authenticity in the process and exposes the listener to an infectious chorus that will rotate in the mind for days. In terms of vocals on the record, you likely won’t hear Chris Acker channel his inner Patsy Cline and belt away the blues anytime soon, but that isn’t essential in terms of recognising when someone is singing from their soul and knowing they really mean every word. In many ways Acker is reminiscent of the late, great John Prine and on that note, I’d bet he could deliver a terrific rendition of the track ‘Sam Stone’.
The record’s second half remains cohesive in the sense that it still features that iconic Acker humour, but the vibe shifts into a greyer area and the upbeat nature of earlier tracks takes a backseat, which I was admittedly grateful for. Although the reasoning eludes me, I find myself coming back to the track ‘Game 6 of ‘86’, there’s a remarkable sadness in the energy of the piece and yet somehow, it escapes falling into a category with the likes of a Townes Van Zandt classic, where you often have to be in a suitably dark mind-set to appreciate it’s beauty. If I don’t find myself sat around a fire in the next few weeks, clutching a glass of something preposterously intoxicating while soaking up ‘Game 6 of ‘86’, I’ll be pretty irked to say the least.
The penultimate track on the record, ‘Eyelash’, took me by surprise in the fragility of its lyricism. It feels like for the first time on the project, Acker is deeply intent on displaying that when necessary, he takes his craft intensely seriously. Whilst I have expressed my dismay for country songs that play into the typical romantic cliché of a man pining for his woman, ‘Eyelash’ sets itself apart from that narrative and is instead presented as the singer leaving a message for himself – “Don’t get sentimental if you won’t love her every day” and I think reminding oneself not to take those we love for granted is quite beautiful.
Famous Lunch closes with another poignant track, or perhaps it isn’t poignant at all. ‘11/8/23’ is more or less Acker melodically talking about his life, singing about the food on his countertop, discussing the friends he envisions betraying him for illogical reasons, the inevitable end of a romance and most importantly notes that it’s the 8th of November and while it may seem like an insignificant day, there will never be another identical to it. We often find ourselves fixating on the past or dreaming about the ideal future and to me, ‘11/8/23’ is a message to observe your surroundings and appreciate your dearest presently, because in an instant everything could change.
Famous Lunch is amusingly left-field for a country album, the laughs are enjoyable, the melodies are spine tingling and the darker moments pack an emotive punch. It may not be to everybody’s taste but it doesn’t have to be, the record will find those it’s meant for and they will undoubtedly be impacted by it in the way that I have been. You ever watch a film where you momentarily feel as though your perspective on life has changed after it? For me, Famous Lunch has altered my preconceived notion that country music can only exist in a deeply serious format, when in actuality it thrives with a little help from a sharp wit and a loving heart. For that, I thank Chris Acker.
Chris Acker: Famous Lunch – Out 11 October 2024 (Gar Hole Records)
Acker – “Wouldn’t Do For You (Buddy)” Official Music Video (youtube.com)
