Eric Athey writes songs about happiness and heartbreak, cynicism and doubt, confusion and resolution. Moody and familiar RockandRoll for people who like guitars.
T I M E / D I S T A N C E (2006)
O P E N H O U S E (2004)
Available at: www.cdbaby.com and www.milesofmusic.com
Time/Distance is the second release from Eric Athey whose 2004 debut Open House had critics praising the Lancaster, Pennsylvania newcomer for his "persuasive four-pack of melody, crunch, and brains, plus vocals with the right amount of spit and unpolish" (No Depression). "Five stars - this is winning roots rock music at its best," wrote The Roots Music Report. The driving, engaging music continues on Time/Distance, Athey's latest collection of songs documenting hope, heartbreak, doubt and resolve.
"One theme is how time and distance heals all wounds. Original, eh?" shrugs Athey. "Another theme is how time and distance impact relationships that haven't been wounded yet."
"The two years between Open House and Time/Distance has let Eric's songs and ideas bloom. Lyrically there's depth, the characters in his songs are growing. Musically it's moody and spooky and confident," adds drummer/co-producer Mark Boquist.
Time/Distance kicks off with Athey asking a desperate girl to tell him the same lies he once told her in the raucous "Angel On Your Shoulder," suggesting that equal guilt provides equal pain but in the end, not necessarily resolve. The reverent "Gone Again" and "She Waits For Me" sound like prayers from both sides of hope with dark and lonely ambiance. Time/Distance serves up guitar rock with the title track and "Route Driver" and power-pop with "Light Inside Your Room" and "The Few Good Things," the latter's broken man pleading, What we had/Is better than/What waits for me tonight. The 14 song disc contains two covers: a haunting update of Gordon Lightfoot's 1974 AM radio staple "Sundown" and a sentimental and accurate take of The Kinks "The Way Love Used To Be."
MilesOfMusic.com writes, "At its boldest, this set is gritty and tart, with the punch of bourbon over beer, offering rootsy rock of the highest grade. On the other side of the coin, Athey shows sensitivity, maturity and depth with a few acoustic performances."
Like his debut Open House, Time/Distance was recorded in a former Baptist church near Ithaca, New York. Athey returns with the core musicians from his first record: Dave Boquist (Son Volt) on guitar, lap steel and fiddle and Mark Boquist (Mark Lanegan) on drums. Mike Santoro (Whiskeytown) played bass while Mike Stark (Johnny Dowd Band) added piano and organ. Matt Saccuccimorano engineered and produced along with Athey and Mark Boquist.
Looking ahead and behind, seeking and finding clarity. In time. With distance.
