Since 1993, Chris von Sneidern (CvS) has released twelve critically acclaimed, self-produced albums: Sight & Sound (1993), Big White Lies (1994), Go!(1996), Wood + Wire (1998), The Sportsmen Spirited (1999); London Payne, 2-cute 2-be 4-gotten, Live Start Lifting (2000), The knight of lines and proses (2001), The Wild Horse (2001), Headful of Words (2003), and California Redemption Value (2004).
The warmth and grace of CvS' music has been recognized by fans and critics alike. Goldmine has compared him to Big Star and Badfinger, while renown music critic Michael Goldberg has declared in the San Francisco Chronicle: "If the remaining ex-Beatles had any guts, they'd seek out von Sneidern to participate in a Beatles reunion. The guy is that good." Option's Lisa Gidley opined, "most of these songs could kick Jakob Dylan's ass with one guitar tied behind their back."
Although CvS has called San Francisco his home for nearly twenty five years, in 2002 he moved to Seattle for 18 months. While there, he landed a publishing deal and has placed a song in Line Of Fire on ABC Television. In that dark and rainy Pacific Northwest tenure, he spent his time writing and recording his latest album, California Redemption Value. The songs are introspective, yet also a joyful celebration of his eventual return to San Francisco. CvS has spent the latter half of 2005 touring the USA as a solo singer, with his 12-string guitar.
When he's not busy with his own recordings, CvS runs his studio, Ordophon, where he serves as producer, mixer and engineer. Working with Badfinger biographer Dan Matovina, he has lent his expertise to Golders Green, and 7 Park Avenue, adding instrumentation to demo material from the late Pete Ham of the 70s band Badfinger.
In, and out of the Ordophon, CvS has worked with a variety of artists, such as E (Eels), Ryan Adams, Paula Cole and Jewel. CvS joined Neko Case on guitar in her kitchen for a track on the homespun CD, Canadian Amp. Hes been on the road with John Wesley Harding's backing band, the Radical Gentlemen, promoting his CD, The Confessions of St.Ace. CvS co-wrote two songs and recorded with JWH for his album Adams Apple.
He has also made a cameo appearance, playing himself in Lynn Hershman Leeson's independent film Conceiving Ada, screened at Sundance Film Festival, and distributed nationally.
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Click below to listen to a few of
Chris' songs.
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Big White Lies Big White Lies |
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Symphony of Love California Redemption Value |
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Doctor Big White Lies |
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