Grow up. I say it to my (admittedly, still pretty young) kids when I think they're not acting their age. I say it to myself sometimes. You've heard it off and on, probably, since you were a kid. What does it mean, though? What is growing up?
On his latest LP, Anchor, Asbury Park's Chris Brown attempts to get at what it means to grow up, I think. The album consists of nine songs about the people, the experiences, and the place that have been Brown's personal anchors, giving him the stability to grow up himself.
The record opens with the upbeat acoustic guitar of "16." "I'm jaded, it seems, the more my youth gets gone," sings Brown. The song is a call to bring some of our teenage idealism and conviction into our adult lives. It includes shouted, sing along, pop punk-style vocals from Howie Cohen and Zachary West (Ghost House / Athletics), Zach Moyle (Lost In Society), and Brown's dad Charlie -- a cast that helps out on several tracks.
"16" works as kind of a companion piece to "When We Were Kids." There are "Whoa oh"s from the gang as Brown imagines a world where people bring a "when we were kids singing punk rock songs" enthusiasm to politics and activism. Even "Take Me Home," with its wailing harmonica, handclaps and foot stomps, has Brown declaring, "I don't know about you, but I'm a kid at heart."
Several songs on Anchor touch on the growing pains experienced by Brown's hometown of Asbury Park and draw some parallels with Brown's own journey. On the title track, Brown sings of years when "I lost my way and broke my heart." "I'm still believin'. As long as I'm breathin', I'm never leavin'," he sings. He found his "Anchor," presumably in his wife and his city. While the lyrics to "Anchor" can be read simply as Brown's singing to his wife about the support they give each other, I initially heard the song as Brown's singing to the city of Asbury Park.
"When The Lights Went Out," which opens with Pete Steinkopf's (who produced 8 of 9 tracks and plays throughout the record) electric guitar, directly addresses Asbury's up and down history. "I'm amazed that she's even survived, no thanks to the crooks on Main St."
"This Here Guitar" is a straightforward, finger-picked thank you to Brown's father Charlie for teaching him a love of music as well as a thank you for the gift of being able "to be just like him." "Sailn' With Jerry" (produced by Pirate Peter Boiko) details the morning after an evening "with our feet in the sand and drinks [of the spiced rum variety] in our hands" and the probably bad decision to get together and do it all over again.
Together, the songs on Anchor have the feel of a night in some seaside bar -- either outdoors or with some wide-open windows. You can smell the salt wafting in on the breeze. You can hear the waves crashing outside, glasses clinking, people singing along.
So what does this all say about growing up? Don't forget the passion and idealism you had as a kid. Channel it and do something constructive as an adult. Find a home. Home could be a place or the people in your life, whatever it is that keeps you grounded. Maintain good relationships -- family, friends, yourself. It's not that hard, really, when you stop and think about it. I'm not sure why it takes us all so long to figure it all out.
Chris Brown will be celebrating the release of Anchor on July 11th at The Anchor's Bend in Asbury Park along with his band Last Night's Disasters, EdTang and The Chops, and Matthew Charles. It's FREE.
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