Chris Glover - Hell Isn't Even That Funny

It is difficult to say where Chris Glover fits in, and I think that’s to his liking. After all, he claims to write music that he “wants to listen to but can’t find.” Evidence of this is his Interscope debut, Hell Isn’t Even That Funny, which, if anything, is difficult to classify. His most consistently present style is white boy rap, but he doesn’t possess the lazy, slacker-cool of Beck nor does he cop an angry at the world act a`la Eminem. Instead, he manifests more of a pop singer/songwriter feel. Unfortunately, rapper/songwriter doesn’t sound all that appealing, and for much of Hell Isn’t Even That Funny it isn’t. Glover isn’t big on structure. While most of the tracks feature rapped verses followed by sung choruses, the placement of everything else is pretty much up for grabs. While this can make for a difficult listen, it’s the beats that lay the foundation for this mess that are the real problem. They just aren’t strong enough to hold things together or keep you connected through the rough spots. Sometimes they’re downright confusing, as in the off-kilter to a fault “Pinocchio,” but when he tightens his focus there are some brilliant payoffs. The mix-tape-ready “Stand on Your Chair” finds much success employing a steady melody, a big-hook chorus and some impeccably placed horns. The drowsy gospel hum of “Holy Moses” is also worth the trouble despite its mismatched surroundings. It’s telling how the odd-duck of the bunch is the shoe that seems to fit Glover the most comfortably. Aside from its faults, it is a remarkable accomplishment when you consider that Glover wrote, performed and produced the album all by himself. Considering that and the few bright spots on his debut, it’s easy to imagine something outstanding coming from him down the road. He clearly has some talent, but you have to dig to find it on Hell Isn’t Even That Funny. [www.chrisglover.com]