Fuckin Prattle

Album Rating: 4.5

Sach - Eitzel has a big voice and in this case it works better having more going on behind him, the increased range feels more ambitious and the songs here have more distinct personalities than on some of his more recent albums.



Understated can work for him (and this album still finds space for songs that show this) but the production here just adds this unexpected complexity/depth/even some virtuosity from Butler.



I'm as guilty of reading that some singer/songwriter's releasing a 'raw, understated, back to basics' album and thinking that means it will inherently be great and somehow more worthy - just liking that this shows the exact opposite approach can work too.

Album Rating: 2.0

*yawn*

Album Rating: 3.0

this aint bad

The 5 is tempting, but do you think I need some context on his past stuff to like this more?

Album Rating: 4.5

FoS - it's a huge discography, this isn't a bad entry point at all but he's definitely an artist that grows on you as you become more familiar with his whole persona and style.



The American Music Club albums 'California' and 'Everclear' are his most well know work. If you want to hear him at his absolute most raw then 'Songs of Love Live' is excellent, all acoustic and spoken word, songs about watching your best friends drink themselves to death, etc.



He's also done more lounge/jazz inflected stuff 'Silver Lining', electronic influenced 'Invisible Man'...basically he's tried a lot of stuff by this point.



But imo this is his best album alongside AMC's 'California'.

Album Rating: 4.5

This has a nice atmosphere. It's big, but not over the top. Butler did a good job. And the songs are good too. It's one of those albums where a different song is my favorite every time I spin it. (Can't beat that) It's an easy 4 for me right now, and it's still growing.

Album Rating: 3.0

Great review Doof.

Unfortunately this still isn't doing a whole ton for me.

It's kind of hard to explain/justify but I think that deep down the problem for me is that Eitzel doesn't really sound natural in these settings. So while I appreciate a lot of what's going on both musically and in the songwriting I feel like on a lot of tracks there's a sort of disconnect. This could be because as you said Eitzel initially planned for these songs to be mostly stripped back and that ultimately that is just the natural setting for them.

I have nothing against big production/the "full band" sound combined with a singer/songwriter sensibility in general but to my ears it just didn't all come together convincingly in this case.

Album Rating: 3.0

"Nothing and Everything" is my favorite and one has to imagine that that (in addition to the closer) is the one that underwent the least editing from Butler, but also what he added in that one (the ghostly backing vocals) elevates the song in a way it doesn't in most others.

Album Rating: 4.5

^^There are a couple of places where it doesn't quite come together and feels awkward, but not a deal breaker for me.

Dropping a 5 right off the bat ehh? Guess I'll have to check it.

Album Rating: 4.5

Nice Twig, I noticed that in the critic reviews they all named different songs as the standouts.

Album Rating: 4.5

Boney - I really like Butler's guitar work here, especially on Mr. Humphries (basically makes an ok song into a world beater)

Album Rating: 3.0

"It's kind of hard to explain/justify but I think that deep down the problem for me is that Eitzel doesn't really sound natural in these settings."



" I have nothing against big production/the "full band" sound combined with a singer/songwriter sensibility in general but to my ears it just didn't all come together convincingly in this case."



yeah i agree



not bad tho

Album Rating: 4.5

This album lets him build the songs to near diva levels that another D.I.Y or acoustic album wouldn't. I'd definitely say anyone whose favourite AMC album is 'Mercury' would absolutely love this. First few spins the vocals seemed a bit too rich (one critic famously compared Eitzel's vocals to a bull in mating season) but I've listened to the album 25 times now and I wouldn't change much about it.

Album Rating: 4.0

As soon as I saw this review, I knew I needed to check this out. @DoofusWainwright, it's rare that I don't really love something you strongly recommend. On the first song now, and I can tell I'll dig this. Haven't heard any Mark Eitzel/American Music Club before.

Album Rating: 4.5

Thanks Sunnyv - this only gets better after follow up plays so hope this grows on you some more

Album Rating: 4.0

Great, I'll give it some repeat listens soon.

Took me a while to drink the Kool-aid on this but "Nothing and Everything" is pretty damn beautiful.

Album Rating: 3.0

"Nothing and Everything" is amazing, my favorite by quite a big margin tbh