Eric Colville: Press

Produced and recorded by Matt Ricthey at
Possum Hall Studios in Hampton Falls, NH |
Mastered by Lenny Delorey

X-Ray Glases is a
wonderfully crafted
eight song EP with a
great mix of tracks that
are all very well
balanced. The thing
about Eric Colville is
that he is a splendidly
smart songwriter, and it shows through numerous
occasions.
“DMMLY” is a great example of his lyrical prowess,
and he never appears to miss a beat. An
up-tempo soft rock-sounding track, complete
with harmonica and claps, “DMMLY” carries you
right along with its cheerful guitar strumming
and its strategically placed supporting organ
notes.
While his lyrics aren’t exactly groundbreaking for
the most part, he does find creative ways to
address his themes a la Bob Dylan. An apparent
example of his exceptional skill is a “1000 Miles.”
Along with the catchy drums and guitar, the lyrics
about moving on after a tough relationship stand
out. The guitar solo fits the mood perfectly and
finds a place without being too distracting,
offering a little extra bit of spice.
Taking a different tone is “Remember to Forget,”
with a noticeably simpler theme, though the rhythm
and rhyme stay true to Colville’s formula. But this
EP’s true winner is “X-Ray Glasses,” a catchy,
country jazz-sounding track that could be a fantasy
B.B. King/Bruce Springsteen collaboration. His true
talent shines through the easy to follow lyrics
accompanied by the even easier jazz background.
Eric Colville Band’s X-Ray Glasses goes far beyond
going through the motions; it goes through the
ranges and delivers. (self-released)
-Josh Innocent
www.ericcolville.com

Eric Colville

Eric Colville's blend of rock inspired music takes listeners to a place where melody collides with thought. His vocals surpass the background music quality of something which is easy to listen to and allows audiences to groove to lyrics which truly inspire. Eric Colville has been compared, vocally, to Evan Dando of The Lemonheads and claims influence from the great Beatles, but I can't speak too much about them.


He writes songs about every day issues of wishing love away for its complications to a funky and humorous take on 12- step programs. His style stays clearly from cliché though he covers topics to which many audiences will connect.


"1000 Miles" stands out with its rhythmic hi-hat beginning and harmonies backing up the chorus. The crescendo in the guitar work brings out the repeated line, "I'm a thousand miles away" and the solo glides into a mindset where one recollects their own past. My favorite line may well be, "What I knew I know I cannot connect with now/ And even if I could I would not bother anyhow". That kind of thinking brings ideals of past lives and new beginnings into an evolving epiphany.


Perhaps Eric has his own epiphanies as he is no stranger to making and self-promoting music. He has been "stuck in the middle…between the man [he is] and the one he's supposed to be" (from "Stuck in the Middle") for several years creating music. Hopefully his latest release, "X-Ray Glasses" will bring more fans to his website at www.ericcolville.com


Fans near New York City can catch Colville at the M.E.A.N.Y festival October 8-18, 2008 and fans local to Massachusetts can hear Eric live at a number of venues throughout the fall.


Review by Ellen E. Aldridge,

Eric Colville Band – X-Ray Glasses
2008, Eric Colville

Can you imagine if Evan Dando had the guitar chops and songwriting sensibilities of Mark Knopfler? Well you don’t need to imagine such a combination; you merely need to take a listen to the Eric Colville Band’s X-Ray Glasses. Hailing from the North Shore of Boston, Eric Colville is a songwriter’s songwriter, with smart lyrics, great melodies and a sensibility for great hooks. Oh, and the band is top notch to boot!

12-Step Program is one of my favorites here, an alt-country mover and shaker that you won’t be able to resist. X-Ray Glasses and Picture Us Together are classics. Doer’s Lament is a very Springsteen singing with the Lemonheads moment. It’s the only way I can describe it, and it’s a very fun, catchy song.

Eric Colville knows how to write great songs, and he appears to know how to take the music seriously; himself less so. These are all elemental to a successful musician. He probably deserves much greater name recognition and fame than he’s likely to attain in today’s homogenized radio environment. But those of you in the know can spread the word. He’s the real deal. And X-Ray Glasses is worth your time.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

With "X-Ray Glasses," Eric Colville Band nicely fuses the spirit of the contemporary singer/songwriter with many complimentary genres - traditional adult rock, rockabilly, and Americana. Vocally, the weathered huskiness in Colville's voice remind the listener of Jakob Dylan of Wallflowers fame, although at times you can hear influences of Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and even Tom Petty. Colville stands out as a lyrical force, with no limits to their subject matter. From the playful material of the title track to the solace-driven "Man I Am" and "Remember To Forget," a lasting impression is left. Whether you're listening to the mellow, acoustic "DMMLY" or the rocking guitar solo in the rockabilly-influenced "12 Step Program," the album is well-recorded with no noticeable missteps. "Man I Am" delivers lyrically and musically as the band lays down a beat that makes you want to move while Colville discusses his ambivalence with the angel and demon on his shoulder - "I'm stuck in the middle, mister, can't you see, between the man I am and the one that I'm supposed to be." The closing track, "Doer's Lament," offers a fast-paced, Americana feel with a choir singing the memorable chorus - "Everybody's gonna do everything, but nobody ever does anything." Overall, "X-Ray Eyes" is a winner and anyone who enjoys adult rock and contemporary singer/songwriters should give it a listen.
-Chris and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team

X-RAY GLASSES Reveals Uncompartmentalized Songwriting
Written by Mike Parker
Tuesday, 08 July 2008
X-Ray Glasses
by Eric Colville Band
Independent

X-Ray Glasses
by Eric Colville Band
Independent
Somewhere between Springsteen’s blue collar rock and Mellancamp’s small town folk lies the hook-laden indie rock of the Eric Colville Band. Intense, intelligent, relentlessly accessible, and instantly sing-alongable, X-Ray Glasses reveals Colville as a songwriter who refuses to compartmentalize his music.
The project kicks off with a mournful and mellow, mid-tempo folk-rocker about love lost. Or at least love that may be lost. Or maybe love that might still be rekindled, but you’re not sure if you really want it to be. Either way, it’s hard not to hum along and tap a sympathetic toe. That tune segues intriguingly into a bluesy, vaguely prog-rocker called “1000 Miles” that harks back to the heyday of the Steve Miller Band. “Man I Am” gets down and dirty in boogie territory as Colville wrestles with the eternal conundrum of who we are vs. who we are supposed to be.
The title cut, with its oddly syncopated tom tom thuds and groove-oriented vocals is a school boy’s dream that elevates the art of girl watching to a science. Colville and company does their best Elvis improv on “12 Step Program,” and “Doer’s Lament” gets downright rebellious with licks reminiscent of classic Steely Dan.
Eric Colville Band hails from New England, but you couldn’t tell it from their music. These guys would feel right at home in an Austin, Texas bar.

Editor's Pick:

His bio mentions that his voice is reminiscent of Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens, or Evan Dando of The Lemonheads, but I would also toss Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, or Shawn Mullins into the mix for good measure. All together, artist Eric Colville presents well-crafted bluesy acoustic rock music. The songwriting is polished but fun. Colville could easily hold his own with many of the influences he cites.

Be sure to check out his latest release "X-Ray Glasses" due to be release this August. Details and all the latest Eric Colville news, including upcoming performances, can be found on his Web site: www.ericcolville.com

"...there isn't a single weak spot on the CD. Every now and then someone comes along and turns heads in just a matter of minutes and Eric Colville is the latest."

Review of "Afraid to Dance," September, 2002

"Colville is not someone trying to impress you by knowing all the answers. Exploring the questions is a more interesting pastime anyway. Especially when it means doing that in Eric's persuasive way with catchy melodies and grooves. Eric's smooth vocals are a pleasure on every song."

CD Review of "Afraid to Dance"

"This song is just out-of-control great. Seriously, I couldn't stop playing Eric Colville's "Afraid to Dance." Eric's thoughtful, clever lyrics and unpredictable rhymes are signs of a real rock and roll poet in the making. Eric's back-up band kicks total ass and this recording is flawlessly produced. Absolutely, compulsively listenable. A+."

Afraid to Dance review