CHRIS LEE BECKER – In and Around Bethlehem USA (CD)

In and Around Bethlehem, U.S.A. is Tulsa-based singer / songwriter / storyteller Chris Lee Becker’s third collection of tunes (his second on Horton Records) and, when hearing it, one might ask a few questions. Will Becker ever wrap his head around religion? Will he ever stop wondering why some folks sit at the cool table and some folks don’t? Why are there two songs about guys named Willie?

Maybe he’ll answer these questions on his next album. In the meantime, one can sit back, relax and enjoy the talents of producer Dylan Layton and the instrumental prowess of some of Tulsa’s best musicians accompanying Becker’s witty lyrics and gritty vocals. You can also sit back, relax and enjoy a fairly disturbing list of mass shootings. In and Around Bethlehem, U.S.A. has it all, folks. Every bit of it.

Becker leaves room for laughing, crying and everything in between while he spins tales steeped with dry humor and frank (sometimes accusatory) honesty. One might enjoy them on good hair days, bad hair days, election days, Tuesdays, Sundays, Thursdays and birthdays. These recordings are both not-to-be-trifled-with and to-be-trifled-with. ‘Nuff said.