Chris Whitley

Chris Whitley burst onto the scene seemingly out of nowhere with his 1991 debut Living with the Law, an album which set Whitley's sweeping vocals and gritty acoustic slide guitar style amidst Daniel Lanois' typically overripe, atmospheric production. Although the album was a critical smash and a AAA radio favorite, Whitley largely turned his back on its style for his following pair of records. Din of Ecstasy, released in 1995, was a bruisingly loud guitar trio album of deconstructed blues and experimental rock, while the following Terra Incognita was a bit milder, striking a stylistic balance between his first two releases. Whitley's latest release, Dirt Floor, was made for indie label Messenger Records and is essentially a solo acoustic affair.