EP Review: Chris Watts 'The God's Own Truth'

Without the darkness I doubt we’d see the stars.” - Chris Watts

Singer-songwriter Chris Watts has certainly seen his share of dark moments. The Louisiana National Guardsman was shot in the Super Dome while on duty during Hurricane Katrina, which then saw him leaving Crescent City for Music City and releasing a solo album, CENLA. Then, in 2015, Watts had to take time off from touring to care for his wife, who had ovarian cancer. While caring for his wife, Watts spent time writing and recording songs for his new album, The God’s Own Truth, which will be released on March 18th.

Written, produced and recorded at East Nashville’s Best Friend Studio with engineer Stephen Allbritton, the five track collection exploring small town life, addiction and life on the road can best be described as honest American roots music; music in the same vein as singer-songwriters such as Rodney Crowell, Chris Knight and contemporary Ward Davis. Watts songs are written with an honesty - and sung in a weathered voice - that can only come from experience. Opening track “Life By The Gun” is the sobering story of living fast, trying to drown out one’s demons and the need to slow down before “getting high spending your last dollar” takes its toll. The shuffling melody of “The God’s Own Truth” tells of the lies one says to others about surviving life on the road. “$40 in the tank, 4 hours of sleep got a truck stop diet on a beggar’s budget, a bible on the dash with your picture above it”, “Homecoming Show” paints the picture of that falling-apart, never-changing town you call home and closing track “I Know What It Means,” a story about how his beloved New Orleans will always stay in his heart, will find you recalling The Band.

Watts sings in the title track “I may never be Bob Dylan,” but he has a knack for melody, lyrics and truth that shows promise as an artist coming into his own. 

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