Chris has been around for awhile, honing his skills in the background by providing memorable backup for other artists. It shows! He delivers a sharp, focused, professional sound. The songwriting is solid and catchy. At times, he reminds me of mid-career Squeeze (East Side Story) and Crowded House, in terms of the composition and vocal delivery of the songs. My favorite song is "Magdalene," which I think highlights the beauty of his voice. Simple and haunting. All in all, this is a good album; however, I think that at times the message, as well as his voice get lost in the "bigness" and clamor of the production. His voice and music can be breathtakingly moving, as in "Sanctuary" on the Streams collection. I'm interested to see what his next project sounds like.I first heard and saw Chris play on Kenny Loggins' acoustic concert in the woods. He showed exemplary guitar and singing skills when he played side by side with Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonalds and Will Ackerman. But Chris was more powerful in Don Moen's I Will Sing live album where he showed ambidextrous skills in delivering power riffs and licks providing color and smooth texture to Don Moen's songs. For people who appreciates musical craftmanship, get a copy of Chris Rodriguez's album.