CRAIG SMITH
Craig Smith possesses a warmth and honesty that permeates everything he touches, everyone he meets, every song he sings.
Craig first made his mark, as a solo recording artist, in 2007, with the album 'Not Sure Not Sure', a musical statement of self-awareness that made some critics' best-of lists, including the Toronto Star Anti-Hit List (a compilation of the best music found outside the mainstream).
Craig's self assessment then - "I've never really been sure about what I'm doing. I just write songs and kind of hope for the best."
Since then, Craig has stayed the course, touring and continuing to clear a path that cleverly walks the line between the roots of rock and country, and the melody of pop.
"I guess my main influences have been people like Neil Young who have always had the integrity to follow their own instincts," he says. "I wouldn't want to get boxed into one category, even though I understand some of the advantages of that. I mean, I love country music, but I also love Bowie".
Add to Craig's inspirations Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and Paul Westerberg (Replacements), artists who have cultivated a more independent-minded approach, who have clearly permeated Smith's musical psyche.
On his newest album, HEAVY EARLY, (March, 2011 release on the Busted Flat Records label), Craig Smith coaxes his familiar Gretsch guitar in and out of corners of his mind, from where comes 12 more musings of a young man pondering his place in the world and the relationships that have brought him love, loss, longing and evidently a little wisdom along the way.
HEAVY EARLY isn't just an assemblage of random tracks, but a classic two-sider vinyl kind of album, where the full resonance and weight of it can only be felt by taking the full ride. The record contains highly personal narratives of alienated characters and searchers looking for a connection, and finding hope – all set to a melodic and often joyous swagger of loud guitars, pumping drums and keyboards intertwined with little acoustic songs that give Heavy Early a cognitive dissonance – a vinyl-album kind-of-flow.
Since the release of Craig Smith's debut solo album, NOT SURE NOT SURE, Craig has shared the stage with an eclectic mix of established and up-and-coming artists, such as Fred Eaglesmith, Jason Collett, Danny Michel, Zeus, Matthew Barber, Afie Juvanen (Bahamas), The Warped 45's, and Drive-By-Truckers. He tours as a solo artist and with his band 'Machine', and is also the guitarist for his partner and acclaimed roots artist, Romney Getty.
Jeff Woods, Explore Music/Q107 (2010)
".Smith's musings on age, love and his place in the world strongly recall Jeff Tweedy's melancholy side.His gift for melody makes this a triumphant record." Exclaim!
".Tongue-in-cheek swagger reminiscent of one of his main songwriting heroes, Paul Westerberg.Not Sure Not Sure easily stands alongside any independently-produced Canadian album of recent memory." KW Record
".Craig Smith is quickly gaining recognition as a first-rate songwriter who is drawing comparisons to such iconic performers as Jeff Tweedy and Neil Young.A wonderful songwriter." CBC Radio 'Fresh Air'
".His baker's dozen of Crazy-Horse-plays-Flaming Lips urban-country rock is a triumph of melody, volume and conviction." Echo
