★★★★★
When Robert Ellis released his first album, Photographs , it made sense to link him to the Texas troubadour tradition and its willfully scruffy folk-country poets. Boy, was that an oversimplification. The Lights from the Chemical Plant introduces a very different Ellis, a guy who gets off on uptown jazzpop finesse, when he's not haunting the honky-tonks...
- www.relix.com
2014-04-25
★★★★★
Robert EllisThe Lights From the Chemical Plant (New West) Much has happened to Robert Ellis since his first New West release, 2011's Photographs. For one, he moved from Texas to Nashville, dedicated to growing his song craft. The Lights From the Chemical Plant easily outshines the uneven Photographs, but Ellis' reach still exceeds his grasp...
- www.austinchronicle.com
2014-03-13
★★★★★
Robert Ellis The Lights From the Chemical PlantBy Thierry CôtéProduced by Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Punch Brothers, Norah Jones), Robert Ellis's third album, The Lights From the Chemical Plant, shares with Caitlin Rose's The Stand-In not only its recording venue (East Nashville's Casino studio), but a sense that it marks the arrival of another original voice in a prolific new wave of country songwriters...
- exclaim.ca
2014-03-01
★★★★★
In 2006, Pharrell Williams' debut solo album, In My Mind, following years as a hugely successful production partner in The Neptunes, landed with an almighty belly-flop. It was a typical, tepid R&B effort, replete with guest spots, but short on memorable tunes. Since then, more diligent production work, combined with a presence as guest contributor to others' hits, has upped his profile...
- www.independent.co.uk
2014-03-01
★★★★★
In an age where mainstream country has an honest-to-goodness rap sequel to Achy Breaky Heart and Taylor Swift is experimenting with dubstep, one can easily get the feeling that country is turning into generic pop with a drawl. The backlash, of course, is to create purist work that doesn't rock the boat, or in this case, the Grand Opry. To evolve and expand on what country can be while still being true to its essence is hard. It is a pleasure when such a feat's accomplished...
- www.musicomh.com
2014-02-28
★★★★★
Robert Ellis' slept-on 2011 album Photographs was an excellent bifurcation of folk and genre styles. Ellis has since moved from Houston to Nashville, and based on his ruminative and stark story songs on his second effort for New West Records, The Lights from the Chemical Plant, he's reeling from love, self-deception and the loneliness of touring. Influences range from veteran singer-songwriters such as Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, Randy Newman and free-jazz artist Ornette Coleman...
- filtermagazine.com
2014-02-15
★★★★★
If country music is defined merely by the presence of pedal steel guitar and vocal twang, then, sure, Robert Ellis fits the bill. But to limit expectations or opinions of The Lights from the Chemical Plant based on that measure alone would be thoroughly misguided. There's so much more to it -- some of which is blatant, some of which is not, but all of which signals that Ellis wields wisdom far beyond his 25 years...
- www.popmatters.com
2014-02-15
★★★★★
You can't take the country out of the boy - just listen to Robert Ellis' honeyed twang - but the boy can take the country out of his songs. The young Texas songwriter, who has proved his honky-tonk chops onstage, takes this opportunity to offer 11 expansive folk-pop songs that are closer in weary spirit to Paul Simon - including a soulful, pedal-steel-sweetened cover of "Still Crazy After All These Years...
- www.rollingstone.com
2014-02-11
★★★★★
If Robert Ellis solidified himself on Photographs as a champion of classic troubadour-y country, he's letting us know with The Lights From the Chemical Plant that we sold him short. On his third full-length (second for New West), Ellis shows he's got a lot more tricks up his sleeve. Two songs in, and the leap Ellis makes on his latest is already readily apparent...
- www.americansongwriter.com
2014-02-11
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