ERIC STRICKLAND & the B SIDES – I’M BAD FOR YOU
2013 – Self
Released
In these days of the sanitized, heavily promoted Nashville take on ‘mainstream country music’ it is a real treat to find a vocalist with pipes easily the equal of Strait, Jackson et al. The fact that he is a talented songwriter as well is an added bonus and when you add in the total lack of sanitization you have pretty much a perfect album of country music that some of the greats of the past (such as Hank 1?) would have been proud of! Of course the fact that he is so far under the radar as to not be seen by most is an added attraction, although one that I’m sure won’t apply for long once word gets out about the release of this tremendous recording! In terms of modern day country singers he stands comparison musically and qualitatively with artists such as Dale Watson and this, his second excellent album release, proves exactly why.
This five piece band of North Carolina natives consists of Eric himself on guitar and vocals, Jimmy Matthews on drums, Gary Braddy, on acoustic guitar, harmonica, and vocals, Bill Lamm, bass guitar and B.J. Barbour on steel guitar, a lineup that has been tried and tested and consists of nothing but exceptional musicians. The album contains twelve songs, ten of which are written by Eric, one by ‘B sides’ guitarist Gary Braddy and a live version of the classic Lucille and proves beyond all doubt that ‘traditional country music’ doesn’t have to be sanitized, bland and over produced. The instrumentation is always sympathetic to the songs and has a lovely, often sparse, clear open sound ensuring nothing gets in the way of the tremendous vocals and the stories they portray on this exceptional album of often raw honky tonk music. The band have such a ‘tightness’ that they are able to inject personality and attitude into even the most mellow song, something that some of the ‘country stars’ or their producers/record companies could and perhaps should learn from. That is probably the difference between the mainstream and the music of artists such as this. There is no smoothing off of raw edges, it is just excellent songs, beautifully sung and played by quality musicians who have a feel for their music that debars any polishing of rough edges, live or on recordings, allowing the depth of the song and the heart to shine through.
On an album of great songs one in particular that struck me as showing what can be done with a ballad that in other hands would have impacted as pure sugar drenched sweetness was Angel Like You. It is a slow moody ballad with gorgeous violin and steel guitar on an intensely sad tale of the hardships faced by a man living in poverty with his much loved wife and struggling to give his family what they deserve, the only sure respite being after life ends. Eric’s writing really picked up on the pure emotion and sheer hopelessness of this family’s situation and when you add his and the band’s performance to the mix you just know that there is a realism to the tale that few can match. This is followed by Crude Oil Blues, another tremendous song that has some beautiful fiddle and steel guitar playing, this time on a mid tempo ‘classic’ country song that even includes some terrific yodelling on a tale that is reminiscent of Hank 1 and bemoans the price of gasoline! Heartache Hall Of Shame describes a situation that is probably familiar to many musicians, being the excellent story of a man who gave up his love to play with his honky tonk band, knowing the two could never mix but preffering his music to his woman. The excellent bass and drums propel the song, with steel guitar and fiddle providing a gorgeous melody on another mid tempo ‘classic’ country song. Not Enough is another gorgeous ballad with the usual classy percussion aided by a nice subtle bass and steel guitar supported by fiddle and twangy electric guitar on the tale of someone who can’t help but turn to drink to drown his sorrows. Finally the title track, I’m Bad For You is a terrific twangy upbeat song on which he tells his lover she deserves better than him, with more excellent steel guitar, bass and drums.
This is an album that will appeal to people such as me who love the edgier side of country music but with the ‘pure’ and sparse country instrumentation, the tremendous songs and Eric Stricklands brilliant vocal performance there is no earthly reason why it shouldn’t be picked up by the mainstream. Surely sooner or later they have to go for quality over promotion!
http://esandthebs.com/
In these days of the sanitized, heavily promoted Nashville take on ‘mainstream country music’ it is a real treat to find a vocalist with pipes easily the equal of Strait, Jackson et al. The fact that he is a talented songwriter as well is an added bonus and when you add in the total lack of sanitization you have pretty much a perfect album of country music that some of the greats of the past (such as Hank 1?) would have been proud of! Of course the fact that he is so far under the radar as to not be seen by most is an added attraction, although one that I’m sure won’t apply for long once word gets out about the release of this tremendous recording! In terms of modern day country singers he stands comparison musically and qualitatively with artists such as Dale Watson and this, his second excellent album release, proves exactly why.
This five piece band of North Carolina natives consists of Eric himself on guitar and vocals, Jimmy Matthews on drums, Gary Braddy, on acoustic guitar, harmonica, and vocals, Bill Lamm, bass guitar and B.J. Barbour on steel guitar, a lineup that has been tried and tested and consists of nothing but exceptional musicians. The album contains twelve songs, ten of which are written by Eric, one by ‘B sides’ guitarist Gary Braddy and a live version of the classic Lucille and proves beyond all doubt that ‘traditional country music’ doesn’t have to be sanitized, bland and over produced. The instrumentation is always sympathetic to the songs and has a lovely, often sparse, clear open sound ensuring nothing gets in the way of the tremendous vocals and the stories they portray on this exceptional album of often raw honky tonk music. The band have such a ‘tightness’ that they are able to inject personality and attitude into even the most mellow song, something that some of the ‘country stars’ or their producers/record companies could and perhaps should learn from. That is probably the difference between the mainstream and the music of artists such as this. There is no smoothing off of raw edges, it is just excellent songs, beautifully sung and played by quality musicians who have a feel for their music that debars any polishing of rough edges, live or on recordings, allowing the depth of the song and the heart to shine through.
On an album of great songs one in particular that struck me as showing what can be done with a ballad that in other hands would have impacted as pure sugar drenched sweetness was Angel Like You. It is a slow moody ballad with gorgeous violin and steel guitar on an intensely sad tale of the hardships faced by a man living in poverty with his much loved wife and struggling to give his family what they deserve, the only sure respite being after life ends. Eric’s writing really picked up on the pure emotion and sheer hopelessness of this family’s situation and when you add his and the band’s performance to the mix you just know that there is a realism to the tale that few can match. This is followed by Crude Oil Blues, another tremendous song that has some beautiful fiddle and steel guitar playing, this time on a mid tempo ‘classic’ country song that even includes some terrific yodelling on a tale that is reminiscent of Hank 1 and bemoans the price of gasoline! Heartache Hall Of Shame describes a situation that is probably familiar to many musicians, being the excellent story of a man who gave up his love to play with his honky tonk band, knowing the two could never mix but preffering his music to his woman. The excellent bass and drums propel the song, with steel guitar and fiddle providing a gorgeous melody on another mid tempo ‘classic’ country song. Not Enough is another gorgeous ballad with the usual classy percussion aided by a nice subtle bass and steel guitar supported by fiddle and twangy electric guitar on the tale of someone who can’t help but turn to drink to drown his sorrows. Finally the title track, I’m Bad For You is a terrific twangy upbeat song on which he tells his lover she deserves better than him, with more excellent steel guitar, bass and drums.
This is an album that will appeal to people such as me who love the edgier side of country music but with the ‘pure’ and sparse country instrumentation, the tremendous songs and Eric Stricklands brilliant vocal performance there is no earthly reason why it shouldn’t be picked up by the mainstream. Surely sooner or later they have to go for quality over promotion!
http://esandthebs.com/