Mark Eitzel has never been famous for the cheery nature of his songs, and following the second break-up of American Music Club and a heart attack in 2011 there is nothing to suggest a lifting of his mood on his first solo album in three years. Indeed, given the lack of commercial success for his solo work, and his recent addition on a list in a second hand record shop of artists that shop staff shouldn’t buy, you’d be forgiven for expecting a statement of defeat here. So it is a surprise to find this to be one of the most positive sounding albums of his solo career to date.
This positivity may not be evident to listeners from the lyrics on the album, from the opening track ‘I Love You But You’re Dead’ the subjects are pretty dark and stark. This may seem like normal service from Eitzel but the arrangements are so breezy and light that the overarching mood is one where he is enjoying singing and recording these songs. Recent interviews have suggested some financial good fortune enabling the recording and an acceptance that he will never be a successful recording artist. This seems to have removed some weight from his shoulders and the result is one of his most enjoyable sets of songs in years.
American Music Club fans looking for any rough edged guitar are going to be disappointed, this is a loungey album throughout but the playing and arrangements are consistently strong. The picked guitar and strings on ‘The Bill Is Due’ may be one of his prettiest compositions to date, complimented by his distinctive soulful vocals.
If the album has one weakness it is that there is not enough variety in the sound, the very clean arrangements walking a fine line between smoothness and blandness at times. There are just enough distinctive arrangements to break up the album however, and the piano and vocals only arrangement of ‘We All Have To Find Our Own Way Out’ may just be the albums masterpiece.
Eitzel is one of the great singers and songwriters of his generation, one who doesn’t get enough credit for excellent back catalogue. Don’t Be A Stranger is his most accessible recording for years and deserves a bigger audience than I expect it will get.
8/10
By Dorian Rogers
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