"Chris O'Brien is my favorite of the newest class of American troubadours. Powerful lyricist, gifted guitarist, charming performer." 
-Ellis Paul 2010 brings us Chris O’Brien’s brand new record, Little Red, a collection of songs about introspection, which represents O’Brien’s growth as a songwriter. “I wanted to confront my boundaries as a writer through honesty and self exploration. I’ve already felt the rewards of that honesty in the reactions I’ve gotten from people after hearing these songs. The challenge has proven to be more than worth it” Produced by Zachariah Hickman (Josh Ritter, Mark Erelli) Little Red is a testament to O’Brien’s evolution as a first-rate singer/songwriter. The album starts off with the melodic song “Carnival”, which in itself feels like a carnival ride. The song explores the difficulties of knowing when to let go while feeling like the last person willing to hold on. A perfect example of O’Brien’s self exploration and pursuit of meeting the challenges of life. The last song on the record is another good example. “Blood Like Yours” has caused quite a stir at O’Brien’s live performances. The song deals with his relationship with his Father, who has battled severe substance abuse, and the parallels and fears this evokes in himself. This is, by far, the most powerful song on the record.
 Chris O’Brien has made quite a name for himself in Boston’s competitive music scene and it didn’t take long for the rest of New England to catch on. Within three years O’Brien made a splash nationally after being chosen from a pool of nearly 1,000 contestants to appear on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion". The following week, Lighthouse became a bestselling singer/songwriter album on iTunes, peaking at #5. The album was also featured on iTunes “Best Albums of 2007” compilation. An added bonus: Actress Cobie Smulders (of How I Met Your Mother) included O’Brien’s song “Ocean Stone” on her iTunes celebrity playlist. O’Brien was nominated for a coveted Boston Music Award for male vocalist of the year, as well as being named WUMB’s “New Artist of the Year”. A captivating and engaging performer, O’Brien’s youth belies his maturity as a songwriter and vocalist.