MAGNET Magazine| Record Review


MARK EITZEL
Music For Courage & Confidence

It’s become an unavoidable part of the music career—especially among the solo artist sect—to do a covers record. Mark Eitzel, who fronted American Music Club in a previous life, takes his karaoke turn with Music For Courage & Confidence, essentially a time-killing project Eitzel began three years ago while in record-label limbo. Solo, Eitzel has dabbled in many styles, from acoustic to electronica, and on Music he croons hits from the ‘40s (Billie Holiday’s "I’ll Be Seeing You") to the ‘80s (Culture Club’s "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?"). This interesting collection of dance fluff, standards, and earnest singer-songwriter fare saunters to a subdued, stylistically similar keyboard-driven vibe. Only on Curtis Mayfield’s "Move On Up" does Eitzel rev it up. His fascination with electronic atmospherics is imprinted on many of the renditions, decorating the tunes in an updated dress of modern sounds, but it doesn’t result in any great reinterpretation. There are some definite keepers here, though: Eitzel turns in inspired performances of Glen Campbell’s "Gentle On My Mind" and Phil Ochs’ "Rehearsals For Retirement." Eitzel is foremost a gifted songwriter and lyricist, so a covers record isn’t the best showcase for his talents. Music, while a pleasant listen, is nowhere near the heartfelt art Eitzel normally blesses us with. [New West, www.newwestrecords.com]

*Reprinted from MAGNET magazine #54 (June/July 02). To order your copy, visit MAGNET