Toronto native Chris Murray flies under the radar, and that is just wrong.
The former frontman of Canadian ska band King Apparatus has been living in Los Angeles for a dozen years, developing his unique musical sound and living the life of an itinerant ska musician travelling the globe, playing and recording with some of the biggest names in the genre. Recently, Murray released his grand opus, Yard Sale, a stunning culmination of his last 15+ years in music.
For Yard Sale, Murray went to the vaults to dig up some rare gems from days of yore. Twenty tracks that made the album were recorded in 19 different sessions, but despite the immense challenge, the results are impressive.
"In the end, I’m really proud of Yard Sale, the musical unity and diversity, and how it tells the story of my life in music, a life I have been very lucky to live," he says.
Yard Sale has highs and lows, but the package is a stellar effort, and includes some tracks that make you wonder why Murray isn’t more well known than he is. Highlights include the opening jump-beat masterpiece "Everything’ll Be Alright," which is so addictive and so utterly fun. A remastered King Apparatus tune "Strong Physical Urge," and the aggressive "F-train," with its throbbing bass line and gritty lyrics add to the groovy mix.
Back in the early ’90s, Toronto’s Chris Murray fronted pioneering Canadian ska outfit King Apparatus. Fuelled by a frenetic live show, and two solid albums (King Apparatus and Marbles), the band managed to carve out a niche. The band split, and Murray headed for Venice Beach and began recording a unique hybrid of folk and ska (recorded in lo-fi on equipment such as a Walkman) that was dubbed "campfire ska."
"I love my career and I’m very lucky and thankful to be able to make a living doing what I love," says Murray. "But it’s a non-stop hustle to make ends meet, to hustle work and to be out on the road as much as I am."
Go to chrismurray.net for more information, or unstrictlyroots.com to buy the album.