Review: Eric Hisaw - Nature Of The Blues
The new millennium has been kind to Eric Hisaw. This talented singer-songwriter debuted in 2000 with "Thing About Trains," and he hasn't looked back since. Today, the number one thing you can say about Eric Hisaw's new album "Nature Of The Blues" is that the music and the artist are 100% authentic. That's rare these days.Born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Hisaw moved to Louisiana at age 17 and settled in a condemned trailer for 80 bucks a month. From there, he took off to Memphis (towards Millington on Highway 51) in a vintage Airstream. Needless to say, Eric Hisaw's country-blues lyrics draw on rich, and, yes, authentic, personal experiences.
The style of "Nature Of The Blues" is earnest, yet laid-back. It's a good combination that makes this album a must-buy for fans of Steve Earle, Chris Knight and Stevie Ray Vaughn. In fact, subtle elements of each of the aforementioned artists can be detected in Hisaw's musical style.
Eric Hisaw's lyrics are reminiscent of the gritty, old-style country songs by Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings with some literary flourish added with Hisaw's fondness for the short stories of Raymond Carver, Larry Brown and Sam Shephard combined with his fascination for Faulker and Steinbech. Hisaw's fine songwriting is showcased in the best (and most potent) song on the album titled "Carnival."
In "Nature Of The Blues," Eric Hisaw tackles real life with a conversational, even laid-back tone that belies his piercing and carefully nuanced lyrics. "Nature Of The Blues" is a tremendous achievement for Eric Hisaw, and it deserves a wide audience. CountryChart.com