Chris Bullinger tackles the status quo of the folk and country music industry with the latter half of his conceptual double album, Waitin’ To Be Seen Part 2.
The Nashville songwriter fuses the sounds of the Midwest with the country heart of the south, exploring themes of love, resilience, and self-discovery. The new album, released half a year after Waitin’ To Be Seen Part 1, delivers a gamut of styles and genres, often with a midcentury folk and country feel.
“Meet You Down the Line” recreates the sounds of a classic country ballad, complete with piano flourishes and steel guitar. Bullinger’s smooth-yet-raspy vocals float above the instrumentals, commanding attention. The lyrics relate the story of a pair who doesn’t know how to process their feelings, and inevitably ends up hurting each other. Bullinger sings, “I’ll meet you down the line / We’ll pretend we never cried,” a hopeful message of future connection in the midst of present pain.
“Salvation As I Know It” is another standout gem, with the upbeat and warm instrumentals elevating the message of the lyrics. Relating the story of a couple who chooses to pursue their transcendent love even in the midst of war, Bullinger doesn’t shy away from relating the almost religious hope that genuine connection can bring in the darkest of times. As he croons “Salvation as I know it / Is my skin on your skin,” the accompanying gospel organ plays the point home.
The sixth track, “Through the Dark,” introduces a lesser-heard sound from Bullinger, as it layers piano, synth, and guitar for an up-tempo triumph of genre fusion, displaying his versatility yet again. The lyrics tell the story of someone who prefers temporary to long term connections, reflecting the joy of these chance encounters in the instrumentals. In one of the verses, Bullinger sings, “Pyrite can heal me, gold’s too cold,” and “You’re always gone in the morning time,” reflecting the temporary but rejuvenating nature of these experiences.
Closing out the album is “Offering Acceptance,” which continues to explore the themes of love and acceptance Bullinger wrote about throughout the album, but in the plainest of terms: “Singers sing their heart / They’re talking of conditions of taking and of giving / I’m offering acceptance.” This acceptance, sung about atop a smooth country track reminiscent of the outlaw country mainstays of the last century, demonstrates the heart of his songwriting.
Inspired by a second grade teacher who told him that he couldn’t sing, Bullinger harnessed that chip on his shoulder as he came of age, setting out to prove that teacher wrong — and boy did he. Beyond his music, he also endured a successful career in renewable energy, where he co-founded one of North America’s largest solar power developers.
In Waitin’ To Be Seen Part 2, Chris Bullinger’s poetic songwriting and wide-ranging musicianship are on full display.
