“Beginners seems like an introduction to Hutson and his past: fears, anxieties and faults and memories. It’s all packaged in a brilliant album that satisfies any cravings for well-written, subtle and resonant folk rock.” – Exclaim!
Christian Lee Hutson’s new album Beginners—produced by Phoebe Bridgers—arrived in stores late last month via ANTI- Records and the album has garnered acclaim from outlets including NPR Music (‘New Music Friday’), Pitchfork, Uproxx, The Grey Estates, and more, while early singles “Get The Old Band Back Together,” “Talk,” and “Lose This Number” also caught the attention of Stereogum, The FADER, Guitar World, Paste, and Brooklyn Vegan, among others.
Hutson recently filmed performances of “Lose This Number” and a cover of Lala Lala’s “Destroyer” for a The Wild Honey Pie live ‘Buzzsession,’ which features the option to donate to Nashville’s community-based, grassroots organization Gideon’s Army.
Beginners can now be purchased or streamed via HERE.
“detailed and perfectly calibrated songwriting” – NPR Music, ‘New Music Friday’
“…a stunningly empathetic study of human frailties” – Pitchfork
“…a deeply personal and revealing look into Hutson’s life, all presented through the lens of gorgeous instrumentals and vocal melodies.” – Uproxx
“…Hutson possesses a rare balance of critical wit and soul” – Paste
On Beginners, Hutson embeds every lyric with his most intimate self-dialogue, sharing painful confessions and private jokes, imagined conversations and elaborate daydreams. The album spotlights a nuanced songcraft and understated candor that all but erases the distance between feeling and expression. Throughout this collection of songs, Hutson ultimately speaks an illuminating truth about regret and forgiveness and the endless confusion in growing up.
“I went with Beginners as the title because that’s where I feel like I am in my life—like I’m still just learning and trying to figure out how to navigate the world,” Hutson notes.
Hutson—who also co-wrote a song on the 2018 boygenius EP and two on the 2019 Better Oblivion Community Center LP—and Bridgers recorded Beginners at L.A.’s legendary Sound City Studios, but purposely preserved the homespun quality of his cell-phone-recorded demos. The album mines its subtle textures from Hutson’s warm vocals and graceful guitar work, and also unfolds flashes of sonic brilliance achieved with the help of its guest musicians—including Bridgers herself, as well as Nathaniel Walcott of Bright Eyes (who created all the string arrangements for the album, in addition to playing trumpet).
