Having been sent this album by Salisbury – created by guitarist/singer/songwriter Eric Lysaght – after listening, I am grateful for something to take away the sting of cold winter nights. It is an album of sheer emotion, catharsis and pure Americana – and I love it. I’m also going to guess that it’s a straightforward concept album, as all these wonderful songs intertwine with one another in total harmony.
The album opens with pastoral sounds that make you feel that you’re in a peaceful, rural dream and goes into “Wake Up”, which suits the soundscape perfectly. This blends right into the album’s title track, “Life Is A Heartbreak”, a gentle, acoustic dirge. “Chariton County” is sweetly picked; a very warm country-fied track that has the Alex Chilton-esque feel I love; a lyric of longing that you can’t help but be touched by. “Down At The Fair” is vivid and gripping; “Leaving” is driven by brushes on the drums, piano and impassioned vocals. “Mary Alice” may be the most upbeat of the songs and has a gorgeous melody.
In all, this fine album is easily one of the best, most cohesive things I’ve had the pleasure of hearing in 2013.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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