Eric Stuart is not a name well-known in the music industry. He doubles as a voice actor, so naturally most of his fans know about him from his anime work (he was Seto Kaiba on Yu-Gi-Oh! and the original voices of Brock and James on Pokemon until 4Kids Entertainment lost the dubbing license). But this is not about his voice acting roles, this is about his music. That is, his band's music. This album is mostly mainstream rock (it features Peter Frampton on four tracks, with Frampton producing those and an additional two songs), with Eric's own country-pop influence on the remaining tracks.

Here was the band's lineup as of this album's release:

Eric Stuart - Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Phil Nix - Lead guitar, background vocals (does not appear on the album)
Questar Welsh - Rhythm guitar, background vocals
Mason Swearingen - Bass, background vocals
Bryan Gardenour - Drums, percussion.

Other musicians on the album included the aformentioned Peter Frampton, session drummer Eddie Bayers, organist Arthur Stead and background vocalist Jenna Malizia, among others.

The album's opening track "Staring You In the Face" sets the tone for the disc. It's one of the more rocking songs in Eric's repetoire, surprising considering this is NOT one of the Frampton songs. Lyrically, Eric's songs mostly deal with love in some way, and "Staring" is one of those. "One Good Reason" (track 2) also deals with love, except this time, it's love on the brink of going bad, only Eric wants to do his best to save it. This song was released as a promotional single and received a decent amount of airplay on college radio.

"The Best Ones Get Away" is the album's first ballad of sorts. It seems that the love Eric tried to save in "One Good Reason" ended up going bad despite his efforts. It also received airplay on college radio, though this time it was unsolicited. "Blue, Dressed In Black" is the album's title track, and it seems to continue the story of the previous songs. This time, Eric is grieving his lost love and there's nothing more to it than that. Though I must say, the first time I heard this particular song, I thought it was Ed Kowalczyk from Live singing it.

Next is "Lost Innocence", which is the song I (as a fellow songwriter) wish I could've wrote, because the lyrics are the story of my own life. Lines like I've been sick and I've been well/At Heaven's gate and on the road to Hell would be widely praised if written by just about anyone else, though since Eric is only known by a few people, the song didn't get the praise it rightfully deserved. It did get airplay on college radio and that's about it. Also of note in this particular song is Frampton's guitar work. The ending solo is among the best things in music, EVER. In the album's second ballad "Heaven In a Cadillac", an acoustic flamenco-influenced number, the lyrics get dark. VERY DARK. The opening two stanzas set the tone for the rest of the song:

Past exit nine on the interstate
there's a little joint called the Pearly Gates;
A roadside inn for the down-and-out
where raising Hell is what they deem devout.

I made my way across the room,
felt the heavy weight of impending doom.
Walked upon the red hot coals
to test my faith and save my soul.

All that, and it doesn't even include the most important line of the song! However, I won't ruin it. This song needs to be listened to to properly feel the impact of the lyrics and the melody.

"Home" is another song featuring Frampton, except he's not playing a guitar in it. This time, it features him playing a dulcimer, of all things. The song is a mid-tempo country-rock tune that tells the tale of a couple who are forced to live miles apart while the husband looks for work in another city after the town's factory closed. He promises her before he leaves that he will come back later to pick her and their kid up and take them with him, while her friends tell her that it won't happen. Well... I don't want to spoil the ending. Like "Heaven In a Cadillac", the song just NEEDS to be heard.

The remainder of the album is mostly duds, with the exception of two songs.

"Corner Booth Chronicles" is the album's third straight-forward ballad, and the lyrics won Eric the John Lennon Songwriting Award. It tells the story of a man who laments lost love by drowning out his sorrows with alcohol. The other remaining good song on the last part of the disc is "Hole In the Head", which is s fast-paced tune with a darn good bass line in addition to Eric's vocals and lyrics.


Overall, the album makes an excellent introduction to Eric Stuart and his band. As noted earlier, a few of these songs JUST HAVE TO BE LISTENED TO in order to appreciate them properly.

Complete Track List
Staring You In the Face
One Good Reason
The Best Ones Get Away
Blue, Dressed In Black
Lost Innocence
Heaven In a Cadillac
Home
Can't Get Enough of It
Raise a Little Hell
Corner Booth Chronicles
Hole In the Head
God's Roof

To get a sample of Eric's music (including 3 songs from this disc):

http://www.myspace.com/ericstuart

And to buy his music:

http://www.ericstuart.com/products.html

(Get CDs directly from him as it's cheaper and he actually gets money from it).

Recommended: Yes