Christopher Paul Stelling Set to Release, Er, Unleash 'False Cities'

Last year, I finally had the opportunity to catch Christopher Paul Stelling live down in D.C. The folk torchbearer is a rousing force on record, but his live show is truly something else -- it's down right spiritual. In a world where everything is moving more and more into a digital realm, music has begun to lose a sense of not only originality but humanity, as well. In these modern times, you'd be hard pressed to find something as truly raw, human, and emotionally compelling as the songs of Christopher Paul Stelling. His conviction and passion for his craft is so evident in each string plucked, in each note sung, that it's hard not to connect with his music on some level. He's a folk artist, but at heart, his sound is rooted in the timeless nature of soulful gospel. As I said before, see him live and try to tell me it's not a near religious experience.

REVIEW: Christopher Paul Stelling - Songs of Praise & Scorn

Christopher Paul Stelling - Songs of Praise & Scorn
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In a world of music where production and trends have become increasingly more important than the music itself, it’s rewarding to come across musicians who still believe in a “less is more” mentality and recognize that music is not a magnet for attention and popularity but rather one of the most genuine ways of expressing oneself. Christopher Paul Stelling epitomizes this musical sincerity, and his debut album, Songs of Praise & Scorn, is an incredibly honest, earnest record that’s just as personal as it is relatable and evocative.

Christopher Paul Stelling Announces Debut LP, Shares Song for Download

We've seen him perform live a few times and know the man is the music and the music is the man. So it's only fitting that we share the news that singer/songwriter Christopher Paul Stelling will release his long-awaited official debut album, Songs of Praise and Scorn, on February 12, 2012 via Mecca Lecca Recording Co. It's an album that pretty much epitomizes what real folk music is, brimming with an inherent honesty and realism.

WATCH: Christopher Paul Stelling Performs for "Sleepover Shows"

Words like genuine, honest, raw, heartfelt, intense, visceral, beautiful...all of these and more get thrown around a lot, especially when one tries to aptly describe a singer/songwriter armed with an acoustic guitar. All would be appropriate adjectives in characterizing the essence of New York City's Christopher Paul Stelling and his music, but they would also all fall shy of truly capturing what it is that he does. When people talk about the power of one voice and a guitar, they're talking about Christopher Paul Stelling. If you don't believe me, check out the three songs he performed live for the "Sleepover Shows" series below.

VIDEO: Christopher Paul Stelling Performs "Flawless Executioner" Inside Kensington Stables

For those unfamiliar, Christopher Paul Stelling is a singer/songwriter based out of Brooklyn who is keeping the spirit of great folk storytellers alive. With his dexterous fingerpicking and trusted, well-worn acoustic guitar, Stelling sings in a sort of introspective way where his music takes on a soulful, captivating intimacy -- like a personal confession of some kind to no one else but you.

Stelling recently performed for BreakThru Radio's "Hear and There," a series where a band/artist is filmed in a creative location. BreakThru filmed Stelling performing inside Kensington Stables in New York, right near Prospect Park. As one horse looks on, Stelling erases any thought outside of the moment in which he is performing. It's a beautifully shot piece as we see birds flying and his warm breath in the chill of the air. Also, you really shouldn't miss the last 30 seconds or so of the video for "The Watermelon Song".

MP3: Christopher Paul Stelling - "Flawless Executioner"

Stream/buy and download a 20-track album of songs recorded live in one long studio session after the hop.