This is what the critics are saying:

"Deceptively simple songs that take a snapshot of a complex world and refine it down to a parable like those tunes in the Carter Family Archive. A serious rambler with an intelligent heart and a point of view in every song.

The better poets seem to step back a little and take things in from a big point of view. Chris has seen the world and shook it's hand in Mali or Cote D'Ivoire West Africa, Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico. He learned his folk and country in Virginia, and somehow manages to focus that down home flavor on a borderless brotherhood of humanity.

I could listen to a whole album of Christopher Lockett playing mbira.

These are good songs that can walk by themselves. That's all they need to be. That's plenty."

Billy Sheppard Billysbunker.com

"These songs sound very American. Sublime jaw harp and harmonica playing.

African and Eastern influences, but the storytelling Americana songs come out on top here... great and swinging.

Lockett succeeds here in getting our attention and raising our curiosity about what comes next."

Rootstime.be

Christopher Lockett is a Los Angeles based singer-songwriter with deep Southern roots watered liberally with world travel, an open ear and a hungry mind.

Lockett has been to Graceland as many times as he’s been to West Africa. Three trips to each in case you’re wondering. His work as a Cinematographer has taken him around the world, often to very difficult and challenging places.

A powerful live performer, Lockett’s show usually features guitar, harmonicas, jaw harp, mbira (AKA kalimba), mandolin, fiddle, Appalachian dulcimer – all anchored by djembe or cajon. Depends on the night. Depends on the lineup. Depends on what instrument Lockett has brought home from his most recent travels.

If all he’s brought back are thoughts and observations on politics, religion and the troubles wrought by destructive corporate practices globally and at home, expect to hear about it. He is a former journalist, he can’t help it. The First Amendment, he believes, only works if you use it.

He also believes that shakin’ what you got and using your mind are not mutually exclusive.

He is joined here on his debut album by such seasoned and talented artists as Amy Farris (Ray Price, Alejandro Excovedo, Brian Wilson, Kelly Willis, Dave Alvin,), Skip Heller (NRBQ, Stan Ridgway, Wanda Jackson, Todd Rundgren, Rosie Flores, Rick Danko, Dave Alvin), Mona Tavakoli (Raining Jane, Jason Mraz), Voyce McGinley III (Kitaro, Severin Browne, Amy Kuney), Craig Ferguson (Cliff Wagner and the Old #7, Erik Janson), Irina Bjorklund (Peter Fox and Vintage Espresso) and Trevi Fligg.