ERIC STUART BAND

Blue, Dressed In Black

(Widow's Peak)

The days as being 'the best known, hardest working unsigned act around' may soon be coming to a happy outcome for singer songwriter Eric Stuart. The Brooklyn-born rocker who made quite a few music fans very happy with the release of his recent four song demo CD gets closer to the flame with the release of his latest full length disc entitled Blue, Dressed In Black, Co-produced by U.K. rock guitar great Peter Frampton, John Regan Harvey Jay Goldberg, the CD serves up a dozen tracks that perfectly capture the essence of Stuart's songwriting gifts. Stuart lists Buddy Holly, Presley, Springsteen and Cat Stevens as big influences and upon hearing Blue, Dressed In Black it's obvious that Stuart not only absorbed these influences, but has blended them together to create a distinctive songwriting and vocal style all his own. Stuart and Co. rock the house on album highlights like "Staring You In The Face" and "Hole In The Head", while deeper, probing songs like "Corner Booth Chronicles" nad "Lost Innocence" deliver the goods with searing intensity. Like Bruce Springsteen, Stuart knows how to wring every once of emotion out of a song and he skillfully proves it on Blue, Dressed In Black. Assisting Stuart are some fine players including guitarists Peter Frampton, Ben Mauro, Mason Swearingen (Bass) and Questar Welsh along with drumming ace Eddie Bayers.

Rober Silverstein

20th Century Guitar Magazine/June 2000