I Will Disappear

A song I wrote as part of the centennial commemoration of the Ballard Locks in Seattle.

Lift Me Up

Original song that came out of hearing one too many songs that made the use of overly simplistic and superficial metaphor.

TASCAM DR-07MK2

Love Is Like

A song I wrote about fish. And about us. And about time.

Still, The Salmon Run

"Rob Kneisler’s maiden voyage into the world of self-released, full length studio albums is a seaworthy effort! The album's overall sonically superior quality is a testament to the fine-tuned ear and engineering skills of TJ Morris at Deep Well Studios. A well blended mix of some of the finest local session players backing up the finger style acoustic guitar mastery of Kneisler. Stand out pieces for me were Last Man Standing - a story song from the perspective of Lionel Greenstreet, the last surviving member of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition led by Ernest Shackleton. Another is the title track, "Lift Me Up,” a lovely tribute to the Ballard Locks which transfers ships from the fresh waters of Lake Union to the salty waters of the Puget Sound. A lovely metaphor of life as described in the first verse:

They say that life has it’s up and it’s downs
Much like the rise and fall of the tide
And like the locks that both join and divide
The lakes and the ocean 

Producer Wes Weddell adds some finely spun accompaniment on mandolin as does Joy Mills and Tom Parker on backing vocals.

The songs on this album are a fine mix of story songs, songs of love, songs about everyday folks, many of which are told from the perspective of a mariner’s heart. John McCutcheon, Dougie Maclean, Alex De Grassi and Bruce Cockburn come to mind as I listened to “Lift Me Up" in its entirety. This highly respectable first release will make you want for more. Looking forward to hearing more from this fine singer songwriter!"

Larry Murante

08 Grasshopper Baggage

07 Waiting For My Ship

06 Last Of The Hand - Bombers

05 Linda's Theme

04 Love Is Like

03 Lift Me Up

02 Last Man Standing

01 About Robert Frost

"Silver Linings" by Rob Kneisler
(Bass part contributed by Dan Mohler)

They say it’s always darkest before the dawn
And every dog has his day
And every cloud has a silver lining
But I don’t see it that way
I don’t know what they’re talking about
It’s really kind of absurd
To sell you on these rose colored glasses
And your vision gets blurred
     What good are silver linings…
 
I’ve seen my share of storm and gale
But I just don’t know
What you’ve been through or where you are
Or which way you will go
But I’m no stranger to the hole that you’re in
I understand 
Maybe there’s another who’ll jump down in
And lend a hand
   And that’s a silver lining…
 
Clouds are nothing but water and air 
And any ray of hope you see
You know, even moonlight starts with the sun
Eventually
And if you’re lost in darkness and doubt
You feel like the ending is near
Find your light and stand before it
Your inner spark will appear
    And that’s your silver lining…

I’ve lived with clouds for all my life
And it has crossed my mind
When you rise from underneath
The light is what you’ll find
    And that’s our silver lining...

Silver Linings

An evocative songwriter known for his intricate fingerstyle guitar work, Rob Kneisler has been an active presence on the Seattle acoustic music scene since emigrating from Michigan in the mid-1990s. Over the past decade, six of his compositions have garnered recognition from regional songwriting competitions, and Kneisler has at last rewarded followers with studio recording of these songs and others on his debut full-length album: Lift Me Up.
 
As his own songs collected awards, Kneisler also gained notoriety for his annual Bruce Cockburn tribute concerts featuring a rotating cast of performers. Listeners who hear this influence in the instrumental work on Lift Me Up may appreciate learning that Kneisler owns a literal duplicate of one of Cockburn’s custom guitars built by master luthier Linda Manzer—the top is even cut from the same piece of wood. Mix this with what Kneisler has gleaned from his time in the maritime trio The Whateverly Brothers and a deep appreciation for the histories of his native Michigan and longtime Northwest home, and Lift Me Up becomes an engaging work all its own.

Rob Kneisler

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