LISTEN/MUSIC: Christopher Paul Stelling's American Gothic

My thoughts on the Brooklyn music scene have been well documented here. While, there are a shit ton of bands, singers, and songwriters most of them aren't worth your time... well, okay they aren't worth my time. But every once in a while, amongst the dribble there's someone special that manages to shine through.

My buddy John Alberico (who shot the video above) told me about Christopher Paul Stelling almost a year ago but it wasn't until recently that I really listened to the music of CPS. There are times in music when you are lucky enough to catch an artist just before they take off, this is that time for CPS.

There are alot of "new folk/retro folk/ironic folk/i play acoustic so I'm serious" musicians walking the streets of Brooklyn these days, most of which carefully crafted their outfits in a Urban Outfitters dressing room while holding a copy of whatever Bob Dylan 180gram vinyl release was for sale that day.

Christopher Paul Stelling seems to be the real deal. Yes, he's got the beaten up moniker engraved guitar ala Woody Guthrie. But it doesn't appear to be part of a packaged image, more an instrument of trade or traveling companion.

A cursory listen of his music reveals a vividly haunting lyricist, an accomplished musician, and most of all a captivating performer. Paying homage to troubadours and storytellers of the past while at the same time immediate and refreshing, Stelling invites us into his rich world of American Gothic.

Decide for yourself. Give a listen to his music below and click BUY if you like them. For five dollars you can get twenty songs of "praise and scorn" from this talented storyteller. As it turns out, genuine artists still do live in Brooklyn.