In the unruly tradition of the Replacements, CR & The White Lights often sound like a band that might implode at any moment. And the New Jersey quintet comports itself with admirable authenticity every step of the way. All ragged edges and loose electricity, CR & The White Lights tap into a lineage that stretches from the amped-up garage/country of Neil Young & Crazy Horse to the haunted indie-folk grandeur of Songs: Ohia.
The new My Own Self (Magic Door) came together over a brutally hot July 4 weekend in 2024 at a small studio in New Brunswick, where performances were tracked live, warts and all. Where other producers may have shut it down, close friend and studio owner Phil Connor wisely kept the tape rolling as the songs found their footing and CR & The White Lights locked into its chaotic sweet spot. At the center of it all is Chris “CR” Gennone, whose lyrics document a season of upheaval marked by unemployment, uncertainty and too many nights at the bar. On “Tinted Windows,” Gennone plays the role of spectator, looking on as missed opportunities pass him by.
“Most of the time, it’s easier to guard yourself and your insecurities—digging this hole deeper and deeper for yourself—than it is to make the necessary changes or face your demons,” says Gennone. “So you just continue to live behind the shades and find a way to cope.”
We’re proud to premiere CR & The White Lights’ “Tinted Windows.” My Old Self is out Wednesday.
—Hobart Rowland
