Chris Robley

The Portland, Ore., songwriter has a challenge to pull off live the densely figured arrangements that grace his current poetic, evocative album, “The Drunken Dance of Modern Man in Love” (here is a songwriter who name-checks William Faulkner and writes a song for “budding centaurea”). Trust this multi-instrumentalist to come through. As Robley urgently sings, “the living’s in the movement, in the running and the ruin now” and he seems to lack a fear of heights. Only gripe? Robley deserves a larger venue than the funky neighborhood hole-in-the-wall of Mr. T’s. - L.A. Times

The Portland, Ore., songwriter has a challenge to pull off live the densely figured arrangements that grace his current poetic, evocative album, “The Drunken Dance of Modern Man in Love” (here is a songwriter who name-checks William Faulkner and writes a song for “budding centaurea”). Trust this multi-instrumentalist to come through. As Robley urgently sings, “the living’s in the movement, in the running and the ruin now” and he seems to lack a fear of heights. Only gripe? Robley deserves a larger venue than the funky neighborhood hole-in-the-wall of Mr. T’s. - L.A. Times

As subtly composed as fine wine. You know how well-written a song is when you’re not sure why it works; only that you could never write one like it if you tried... It’s clear that Robley’s a major talent, a force to be reckoned with. - The Indie Literati

'The Drunken Dance of Modern Man in Love' is an unusual, evocative album, both musically varied and tuneful.
-All Music Guide - All Music Guide

'The Drunken Dance of Modern Man in Love' is an unusual, evocative album, both musically varied and tuneful.
-All Music Guide - All Music Guide

His poetic sensibility gives his music a depth and wisdom many young songwriters lack.
-San Francisco Examiner - San Francisco Examiner

His poetic sensibility gives his music a depth and wisdom many young songwriters lack.
-San Francisco Examiner - San Francisco Examiner

Chris Robley is one of those mad scientists of pop-rock, whose baroque experiments include everything but the kitchen synth.
-Tucson Weekly - Tucson Weekly

Chris Robley is one of those mad scientists of pop-rock, whose baroque experiments include everything but the kitchen synth.
-Tucson Weekly - Tucson Weekly

The album could have ended up being mere studio trickery, but Robley's songs are so strong he could deliver them given just an unamplified acoustic guitar. Robley's singing, at his most urgent, recalls Lennon's desperate-yet-melodic rasp, but it's evident he's not posturing to achieve the sound, just slipping comfortably into it like a pair of vintage Beatle boots that happen to perfectly fit his feet.
-Willamette Week (jeff rosenberg)
- Willamette Week

The album could have ended up being mere studio trickery, but Robley's songs are so strong he could deliver them given just an unamplified acoustic guitar. Robley's singing, at his most urgent, recalls Lennon's desperate-yet-melodic rasp, but it's evident he's not posturing to achieve the sound, just slipping comfortably into it like a pair of vintage Beatle boots that happen to perfectly fit his feet.
-Willamette Week (jeff rosenberg)
- Willamette Week

"this Is the" deserves a place among your Elliot Smith, Badly Drawn Boy, John Lennon, and -- yes, even your Guns 'N Roses albums.
-Splendid e-zine - Splendid

(Drunken Dance) is without a doubt one of the strongest independent releases that has come into my hands this year.
-Shawn Kyle. Reax Music - Reax Music

"this Is the" deserves a place among your Elliot Smith, Badly Drawn Boy, John Lennon, and -- yes, even your Guns 'N Roses albums.
-Splendid e-zine - Splendid

The Drunken Dance of Modern Man in Love is nothing short of outstanding in that it mixes and molds so many genres, yet still keeps a cohesive feel. Robley is a fine example of how breaking the boundaries is not only good for music, but essential.
-Tim Wardyn. Ink19 - Ink19

The Drunken Dance of Modern Man in Love is nothing short of outstanding in that it mixes and molds so many genres, yet still keeps a cohesive feel. Robley is a fine example of how breaking the boundaries is not only good for music, but essential.
-Tim Wardyn. Ink19 - Ink19

Each song is a fully formed vignette that could stand alongside any "Sgt. Pepper" or Queen cut... Looks like these future rock stars paid attention in lit class in college and grew up to be hyper-literate songwriters and pastiche-pretty producers. We'll watch with great interest where the Selzers, Robleys, Wards and Decemberists take us next.
-Don Campbell. The Oregonian - The Oregonian