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Album Details

• Artist: Eric Matthews
• Album: Six Kinds Of Passion Looking For An Exit
• Label: Empyrean
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: bbuckingham on 2005-03-28

In the mid-90s, Eric Matthews was at the forefront of a brief literate, 60s-informed pop revival, along with Jason Falkner and Richard Davies (who Matthews collaborated with on the sublime Cardinal project.) Matthews all but disappeared in 1998 after two ambitious efforts on Sub Pop records, only to resurface 8 years later with this stripped-down 7-song effort.

Where 1995's "It's Heavy In Here" and 1997's "The Lateness Of The Hour" were heavily orchestrated in the manner of classic LPs like Love's "Forever Changes" and The Zombies "Oddyesy and Oracle," "Six Kinds.." is spartan and fragile. Bright acoustic guitars and Matthew's precious, breathy vocals are at the forefront, with e-bowed guitars and keyboards coloring the palette.

But much like his past efforts, "Six Kinds.." requires repeated listening before the melodies stick. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it won't deliver for those who look for immediacy in their pop.

As an aside, the package design is truly amateurish - in stark contrast to the smart, crystalline pop inside.

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