Search - Eric Andersen :: Beat Avenue

Continuing greatness

E. Harwood | Lewiston, Maine United States | 03/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eric Andersen has been putting out wonderful records for almost 40 years now. From his earliest work he has always been one of the giants of the singer songwriter field, and yet somehow his stature has never received the achnowledgement it has so clearly merited. Has the New York Times devoted an extensive review to any of his albums over the last 15 years (since "Ghosts Upon the Road)? I don't think so. And yet Andersen's work over that time has been among his strongest ever...remarkable work quite simply beyond the reach of anyone other than Dylan. Dylan, of course, has had a great 90's too, but he has also gotten plenty of recognition for it. Will this superb record change that? Probably not, but it should. Musically and lyrically it is a triumph for Andersen. The music is full of energy and variety. The band plays wonderfully behind him. And the lyrics...one song after the next...are astonishingly rich. Beat Avenue is a master at the very top of his game. It is inconceivable to me that a record better than this will come out this year."

Career Defining at the Age of 60

o dubhthaigh | north rustico, pei, canada | 02/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eric Andersen is one of those vanguard pioneers who came out of the Northern snowfields in the 60's and set about blurring the lines as to what songwriting was supposed to be about. As original and creative as his comtemporaries, some of whom inspired him, some of whom he challenged, much as fellow Canadian Neil Young would a few years later, Andersen seemed to trawl the darker waters of the soul, without falling under the sweep of the tide. Nothing's changed. It's only improved with age.
His career hit a watershed moment with "Blue River", and as the "Lost Tapes" confirmed, he was very much the musical counterpoint to Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow." The BIG buisness of recording eventually ignored him, so he took himself back to the woodshed of his origins and began a long, fruitful and philosophically intense sojourn in Norway. All of the CDs from this epoch in his life are worth seeking out, in particular his collaborations with Jonas Fjeld, and later with Rick Danko.
But even with all of these extraordinary achievements, I have to admit I was completely blown away by the power of this CD. As the official reviewer states, this somewhat harkens back to a time when radio was less market researched and would give you a shot at stringing together something bold, creative, innovative. Andersen was all that in spades all along. It has reached its zenith here.
The opening disc, supported by a superb cadre of musicians and singers, including his daughter, has all the trademarks of Eric Andersen at the top of his game. The second disc is a meditation on what went wrong with the world when America slew its leader. As McLeese notes, this is the kind of epic that perhaps only Robbie Robertson or Dylan could pull off with the same cogency, drama, power. It's not like you suddenly become brain dead at 60, but when you consider how safe most people try to play their lives by that point, to summon the courage and integrity to push songwriting and philosophical beliefs at this point in his life is positively Heideggerian in its daunting bravery. Plus it's sheer genius. Andersen went right to the cliff and lept off. His flight into the heavens is a thing of wonder, and he has a lot of very important observations to make that we ought to listen to, if we're not going to kill ourselves off for sure. Essentially, his is a soul that wants to come home. He has sought that home in lovers, family, music, Norway, North America. He looks for it still and will not release his soul or his heart or his mind until he finds it. Quite a statement from an artist who has always made quite a statement. Get this. You owe it to yourself."

One of the Year's Best

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 09/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Stranded in the wilderness, high inside my hand, for every act of wickedness, another grain of sand," Eric sings on the opener "Ain't No Time to Bleed" with Phoebe Snow's vocals soaring behind Eric's burning lyrics. When Eric sings "Jesus pawned his cross," it's evident we're in a for a bumpy ride as Eric dedicates this to Bob Dylan who he describes as, "true poet, hard worker, man of constant wonder, good friend, teacher, the master." If Dylan's the master, Andersen's an apt pupil as he changes gears for the midtempo "Before Everything Changed." Eric hits his softer side on "Shape of a Broken Heart," with Joyce Andersen's aching violin giving the bare-bones melody a dream-like quality. Eric rocks again on the haunting "Great Pyramid," "I'm looking for the holy man banished on the cross; I'm looking for the eyes of God, I'm looking for the loss." On "Rains Are Gonna Come" Eric again rocks full throttle. Garth Hudson's piano pounds on the rocker "Stupid Love." Lucy Kaplansky does background vocals on the soft lovely melody "Still Looking for You." "It's time to let the river just flow" Eric sings seeking peace on "Feel Like Comin' Home." On the second disc, the 26 minute "Beat Avenue" is a homage to the beat poets referencing memories of John Kennedy's assassination. Eric's voice talk-sings like a sober Tom Waits alienated and apart from a world that seems out of control. Eric concludes with a slow blues groove and snarls through the 10-minute "Blue Rockin' Chair," "Trying to be a beggar but you don't know how." Eric Andersen is incredible in so many ways. He is first and foremost an artist striving for quality. His lyrics are some of the most intricate and literate; so it's a shame that they are not printed here. [My apology in advance if I've incorrectly heard the lyrics I quoted.] Eric is also incredible because he is a survivor with a 40-year career in which he is still expanding horizons. Seek & you shall find!"