MAPLEWOOD
Released: 2000
Rating: 8/10
Download suggestion: "Whistle of A Distant Train"

A self-produced 6 song EP makes up the solo debut from ex-member of indieband Snug. An EP that charmed the critics enough to make way for a highly successful career. And some will argue that this is as good as Harcourt ever got, and it's easy to see why. This is almost like watching The Beatles in Germany, The Stones at the Marquee or Bob Dylan somewhere in The Village. Not that Harcourt moves in the same genres, but somehow it's watching a star being born. And it is beautiful. It's rougher and gentler than the later, more polished releases that would follow. Probably more playful and naive as well.

Songs such as the poppy "Apple of My Eye" and the Beck-imitation "Hanging With The Wrong Crowd" got recycled for the full-length album Here Be Monsters, but these stripped down arrangements gives them another dimension, another basis. However, my favorite tracks are the Tom Waits-influenced couple "Whistle of A Distant Train" and "Attaboy Go Spin A Yarn". Whereas Harcourt later would find inspiration from Waits' later work such as Mule Variations and Bone Machine, here he borrows from the master's early recordings. This is more "Martha" than it is "What's He Building?". Nothing original or unique, but it is well-crafted and has an imaginative romanticism filled with just enough gloominess.

HERE BE MONSTERS
Released: 2001
Rating: 8/10
Download suggestion: "God Protect Your Soul"

Here Be Monsters fulfilled most of the expectations caused by the debut EP and Ed Harcourt lived up to every critic’s wet dream. And really, how can anyone be able to restrain oneself against these songs, against these arrangements, against this voice?

The music is far from original, but it is good. Harcourt most probably has a nice little record collection at home, and you can tell he has studied and analyzed them carefully. Tom Waits, the Zombies and Brian Wilson have been dissected. The Beatles, U2 and Beck have gone through endless of X-ray treatments. All secrets of the masters have been revealed and Harcourt watched, listened and learned them by heart.

Not only does he walk sacred ground, that only the greatest songwriters and artist walked, but also treating the path with respect, love, care and not to be forgotten; curiosity. A will to learn, a will to be just as good as the vinyl heroes he only meet at home on the turntable. If he manages to ignore his knowledge, if he uses less brains and relies more on pure instinct, he will definitely reach that goal. Then he will make immortal albums, truly timeless music and become one of the greats. He has come a long way already.

FROM EVERY SPHERE
Released: 2003
Rating: 9/10
Download suggestion: "Bittersweetheart"

Well, why change a winning concept? From Every Sphere doesn’t differ too much compared to the full length debut Here Be Monsters. I can’t really put my finger on anything or point at something he does here that he didn’t do two years ago. And I can’t say that there are any tracks stronger than, say “She Fell Into My Arms” (a Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci rip off, by the way), and I think compared on a song-by-song-basis Here Be Monsters would get the nod from most people. However, From every Sphere feels like a stronger listen overall and maybe it’s more even than it’s precedor.

The opening “Bittersweetheart”, “All of Your Days Will Be Blessed” and “Watching The Sun Come Up” are all beautiful examples of up tempo pop with clear influences from Bowie, Beach Boys and U2. “Sister Reneé”, “Bleed A River Deep” and “Fireflies Take Flight” finds Harcourt doing what he does best, personal ballads with clever and gentle harmony vocals and the piano up front. Of course, this man isn’t mentioned in the same breath as Tom Waits for nothing, The brilliant twin songs “Ghost Writer” and “Undertaker Strut” sounds just like something off of Waits’ own Rain Dogs or Mule Variations. Especially during the verses, while the choruses are catchy, a bit cleaner and has a clear sense of pure pop to them. Like the result of locking up Waits and McCartney in a studio, I imagine.

Speaking of McCartney, don’t you think the fade out in “Jetsetter” resembles the Wings masterpiece Band On The Run? Anyway, with all these influences, inspirational sources and obvious borrowed ideas, it feels like Harcourt has managed to find himself somewhere among all the ingredients. Even though this isn’t a far step from the debut, it’s still very good and I still wait for the perfect album I’m so convinced he is capable of.

STRANGERS
Released: 2004
Rating: 6/10
Download suggestion: "This One's For You"

Repetition and disappointment is the way to sum up 2004’s Harcourt release Strangers. I had looked forward to this album with great expectations, but it seems like Harcourt simply left the auto pilot on and went for a cup of coffee. There are little development in the sound and the songs fails to seriously move the listener. It is all competent enough, of course, but when acting in the specific genre as Harcourt, a good sound is never enough. There’s got to be something more deeper and personal behind it. Up-tempo and album opener “The Storm Is Coming” is a major exception and the beautiful ballad “This One’s For You” is the obvious album highlight.

Most of the other songs lacks something and are short of surprises. At least if you have heard Harcourt’s previous two albums. Perhaps Strangers might work for someone unfamiliar with Here Be Monsters and From Every Sphere, but for the rest of us it is somewhat sad to sit through an uninspired version of those two albums once again. And it's even sadder to watch someone who could've been the new Tom Waits turn into the new Elton John.