Album Review: Eric Hutchinson - Sounds Like This

When the biggest problem you have found with an album after multiple listens is that it's not long enough, that's an indication that you might have an A-worthy album on your hands.

Such seems to be the case with Eric Hutchinson's first major album, Sounds Like This, re-released in May of 2008 after blogger Perez Hilton put the spotlight on this singer/songwriter from our nation's capital. The journey into Eric's alternative rock world is not a long one, but it is certainly a fulfilling one.

If there was one word to be used to describe Eric Hutchinson, it would be eclectic. Sounds Like This is a ten-song effort that covers the usual range of human emotion with an unusual range of genres: Hutchinson's songs can be described in myriad ways (alternative rock, funk, soul, piano ballad, etc.), but they all fit comfortably into a unique style that the 28-year-old has seemed to master quite well. Hutchinson's greatest strength is his sense of cohesion: every song is strong, but viewed as a collective work it is greater than the sum of its parts. From start to finish, Sounds Like This is an incredibly enjoyable album.

Eric Hutchinson's voice sounds like Jason Mraz, but with perhaps even more range and control. In "Food Chain" he even evokes the spirit of Freddie Mercury in certain notes and piano lines. In addition to piano, his songs are filled with saxophone solos, intriguing sound effects, and catchy chords and melodies. As far as being pleasing to the ear goes, Hutchinson has it down to a science.

His song content also ranges from simple and detached (as in the VH1 You Oughta Know single "Rock N Roll") to the poignant(as in "Oh!") without skipping a beat. Rather than serve out one type of cookie cutter sound, Eric Hutchinson delivers an entire bakery's worth of delicious pastries (in the music sense, of course...metaphor ends now).

The only other complaint besides the length of the album has to do with the disparity in production value: obviously picked to be the album's single, "Rock N Roll" has a manufactured, almost overproduced feel to it that leaves the rest of the album sounding raw in comparison. However, this is merely a small flaw that is worth mentioning only so I don't sound as gaga over this CD as I have already.

The point is, Eric Hutchinson makes good songs, and by placing ten of those good songs back to back he has made a very good album. The somewhat poppy sound might drive away some listeners, but those who stay for the short ride are going to be dying to take it over and over again.

Scoring:

Replayability: (20/20) If you look below, you'll see that 7 out of the 10 songs on the album get a check plus. With so many great songs on the album, it's hard to take out of your CD player; I haven't for a solid week so far.

Music: (18/20) While not being overly complex, Hutchinson has created a variety of different sounds with his acoustic guitar and piano and uses synth and other effects to keep his songs stand out for their individuality and also their catchiness.

Lyrics: (16/20) Much like his music, Hutchinson will not win any awards for fantastic poetry. However, the simple lyrics that capture human emotion so well (as evidenced in "It Hasn't Been Long Enough": "I think I've been wrong enough to know when I'm right/So put up fight if you must but we know that our trust is undone") help maintain the balance between identifying with the listeners and also not sounding like a pretentious English major.

Completeness: (20/20) There are no letdowns on this entire album. Even the songs that did not earn check pluses are good songs that receive mere checks only because they are right next to such great songs. Like I said, this album becomes greater than the sum of its parts because of how complete it is.

Emotional Pull: (17/20) Songs such as "Oh!", "It Hasn't Been Long Enough", and "You've Got You" all bring emotions to the surface, whether it's about the human condition or simply about the negative aspects of relationships. The accessible lyrics is part of what makes this score so high: what Hutchinson is singing about is common, easy-to-relate-to emotions that can strike a chord with the listener at any time.

Total Score: 91

Grade: A-


In conclusion, buy this album. Worth the download. Worth the buy. No matter what type of music you like, you'll find something that pleases you on this album.

Extras

Check/Check Plus/X:
Ok, It's All Right With Me √+
You Don't Have to Believe Me √+
Outside Villanova √
Food Chain √+
Rock & Roll √+
Oh! √+
All Over Now √
It Hasn't Been Long Enough √+
Back To Where I Was √
You've Got You √+


As always, anyone who wants to have a CD reviewed can email me at rockreportcard@hotmail.com and I'll have a review up as soon as I can. Also if there is an album coming out in a few weeks you want to hear about, let me know so I can prepare for it before its release date.

Sit tight til the next grade,
RRC