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LI Sound: Bryan Eich digs 'Devil' of a pop song (2010)
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Bryan Eich takes the familiar sound of '70s classic rock and gives it his own contemporary twist.
...Bryan Eich takes the familiar sound of '70s classic rock and gives it his own contemporary twist.
There's something instantly comfortable about Bryan Eich's music, the way he takes the familiar sound of '70s classic rock and gives it his own contemporary twist.
The Mineola singer-songwriter shows off that skill time and time again on his new EP "Devil in Disguise," which he plans to self-release in January, in honor of his 28th birthday. He's also working on a video for the up-tempo "Shakin' Up the Love," which could be a radio hit now, with its irresistible chorus and winding poppy guitars.
"I mostly write darker stuff, classic-rock Pink Floyd-ish kinds of things," Eich says. "But every now and then, something poppy comes to me and I hold onto it, thinking, 'I need to use this, too.' Not everybody wants to listen to sad stuff."
True enough, though Eich's lush version of "sad" - accomplished by recording at his home studio and at VuDu Studios in Freeport with Mike Watts - is the kind of stuff lots of people would want to listen to if they got a chance to hear it.
The Beatles' influence on Eich is clear, though there's also a bit of Joseph Arthur inventiveness to "Building a Room" and "Care for You."
Eich says he's working on a full album to follow 2007's "Sleeping by a Wire," but for now, he's eager to get this batch of songs out to as many people as possible.
"Making music is just something I need to do," he says. "Music was something I didn't pay much attention to as a kid, but when I turned 13, I got that click you get when you hear The Beatles. It was like a religious experience. I needed to get a guitar. I needed to learn how to play. You get those blinders on. Now, I'm in for the long haul."
"Devil in Disguise" will be available on iTunes, CD Baby or through bryaneichmusic.com.
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Bryan Eich - Devil in Disguise EP (2010)
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Who?
Bryan Eich was the founder and co-songwriter for Long Island's Stars in December, one of the m...Who?
Bryan Eich was the founder and co-songwriter for Long Island's Stars in December, one of the more promising modern rock bands to emerge from the region in quite some time. Devil in Disguise is his follow-up to 2007's Sleeping by a Wire. Devil in Disguise was produced by Mike Watts (As Tall as Lions, Self Against City).
How is it?
Phenomenal. One of the best EPs released in the last few years, Devil in Disguise bristles with polish, professionalism and radio-ready choruses. Moving away from the Oasis-inspired Sleeping By a Wire, Devil in Disguise is jangly, buoyant and nothing short of stellar. The most accessible of the five is "Heaven's Just a Feeling (Devil in Disguise)," a hallucinatory vortex of shimmering guitars, soaring vocals and gossamer harmonies. Opener "I've Been Alive," coasts along in a resplendent manner that's equal parts refreshing, transcendent and triumphant.
"Shaking Up the Love," has a slight psychedelic bent that makes for fuzzy and vibrant verses, before pounding headlong into a punchy chorus. The disc ends with the fragile "Care For You," and the sedate, "Building a Room," both of which display an innate ability to successfully balance pop-rock juggernauts with cerebral ballads. Equally as impressive as Sleeping By a Wire, if not more so, Devil in Disguise is one of the more engaging and impressive EPs to come across this review desk in quite some time.
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Bryan Eich can challenge the big guys
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'I have been living on L.I. my whole life," Bryan Eich wrote in a letter that accompanied his new di...'I have been living on L.I. my whole life," Bryan Eich wrote in a letter that accompanied his new disc, "and whenever I say that I am from around here I tend to get asked if I play emo music. This is not the case."
That's for sure. Eich's self-released disc, "Sleeping By a Wire," is a collection of dreamy, well-crafted ballads that ought to give John Mayer, James Blunt and Dashboard Confessional a run for their money. At the same time, there are enough rock crescendos and quirky rhythms to keep rock fans on their toes. Eich, a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Mineola, is sensitive without being smooth, romantic without getting gooey - a winning combination.
His main topic is love, of course. The wistful lead track, "Big Fish," presumably laments the one that got away, but "Can't Wait For Long" celebrates a new infatuation: "We're lying in the sunlight/ It's so hot, it's hot as hell/I tripped right on your heart." Sound corny? Not when Eich sings it, not even when his voice soars on the line, "You'll be my baby all the way."
Eich's voice is a key part of this package. He can mumble forlornly ("Love Blind"), reach deep ("Lost") or drift into the ether ("One That I Like"). Yet Eich isn't putting on an act. If anything, he can be a little too plainspoken. When he sings "Don't you cry in front of me, you're the one who wants to leave" (on "Everything") it's hard to say whether he's resorting to cliché or simply telling it like it is. Then again, maybe that's why this disc is so appealing.
Eich's next gig probably isn't until October, but in the meantime visit bryaneichmusic .com.
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Bryan Eich - Sleeping By A Wire - Review
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Bryan Eich - Sleeping By A Wire
Posted on 07-13-07 by Blake Solomon
Bryan Eich – Sleeping By A Wir...Bryan Eich - Sleeping By A Wire
Posted on 07-13-07 by Blake Solomon
Bryan Eich – Sleeping By A Wire
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: July 2007
I find myself rooting for the underdog often. This is bad because I have a gambling problem. It’s a blessing because I hear music that is, quite literally, mine and mine alone. Bryan Eich, however, is just too good for me to keep tight-lipped about. His silky smooth acoustic pop songs are light and smart, while everything about Sleeping By A Wire remains understated. Forget the microscope, we need a spotlight!
This is a cozy album. The lyrics and simple melodies feel familiar, not clichéd. Yes, there is a difference. Opener, “Big Fish,” other than recalling one of my favorite movies, is a piano and snare affair about a lost love with “a perfect body.” Lust? In an easy listening pop record? Right on, Bryan Eich. The following, unintentional Beach Boy tribute, “Can’t Wait Too Long,” makes use of retro guitars and a lovely string arrangement. As standard as Sleeping By A Wire is, it never gets stuck in a rut. Each of the 13 tracks includes enough deviations to goad the listener on further.
I could rapid-fire the different styles here (like alt-rocker “Head Hangs Low” or discordant “Lost,” for example) but you don’t want to read that. You want to read why Bryan Eich is special. It’s quite simple, he cares and he struggles and he lives just like the other joe-schmoes of the world. It’s just, when Eich goes through tough times like the goodbyes in folky “Everything,” he makes beautiful music. The rest of us are content with beating up a pillow or drinking ourselves into another (probably uglier) person’s arms. Such is life, and such is Sleeping By A Wire.
Eich brings so much authenticity to his lyrics. He yearns and excites when the music dictates. Case in point, after he nearly gives up on everything with the line, “But that’s the way it goes,” I half expected the record to end. Each song is written and performed with so much heart; this must have been an exhausting record to pen.
Sleeping By A Wire is for the downtrodden and, somehow, for the triumphant. I say this because of the inspiring feeling such a complete album brings the listener. Eich notes these songs took 12 years to finally finish. I assure you, Sleeping By A Wire was well worth the wait.
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Bryan Eich "Sleeping By A Wire" Review
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It becomes apparent very early on that Bryan Eich is here to play music to reminisce over the ever s...It becomes apparent very early on that Bryan Eich is here to play music to reminisce over the ever so common feelings of lust, love, and loss - all constituting the pith of life. Lyrics are as light as ever in this already light album, and one should give him merit for the effect of his music rather than judging him by his words alone. It's not hard to tell that Bryan Eich was inspired by the likes of Oasis, Coldplay, Radiohead, Travis and the Beatles, but his ability to differentiate himself in sound really makes Sleeping By a Wire something special. Pleasing to the ear, Eich's cozy vocals never seem forced proving his words to be that much more meaningful. It's hard not to gain trust in him and his often melodic, simple, sweet and occasionally divergent music. This New York based musician is compelling and no cliché; in fact, he's rather a deviationist of sorts. These songs provide a much-appreciated look into life and what it gives and takes. And whatever these feelings should sound like, Eich makes a good representation of the human study in his music.
In an easy listening pop album like this, it is better to describe the emotions the music conjures over sound itself. Thanks to satisfactory storytelling, Bryan Eich presents an album full of emotion. Piano and snare opener "Big Fish" stumbles through lust-driven vulnerabilities. "Can't Wait For Long" dwells in the heady feeling of love while "Head Hangs Low" follows the lowest moments of despair. Coming of age "We're Worlds Apart" and "Somewhere Along the Line" both share cinematic qualities in their already mature sound. "Piece of Mind" portrays a much weaker, broader idea of misfortune - in this case, loss of self or the search for self - but sounds just as sweet as any of Eich's other poppy manifestations. The daunting "Love Blind" is full of false hope and the irreconcilable "Lost" pounds and throbs through strong emotions. The lovely "Everything" depicts even the most cumbersome goodbyes. "One That I Like" provides cheerful trills during the most substantial stages of love. The desperation in "Lonely Where I've Been" seems so sweet despite the gradual pain that pulsates through, eventually ending with the most melancholy strings ever thought imaginable. "Time Will Come Over You" is independent and strong as well as encouraging like in the closer, "Honey". Sleeping By a Wire will bring you to tears if experiencing a weak heart, which is until you come across one of the inspiring songs on the album. Having a fairly good balance of tracks, Eich is well aware of the power his music can evoke.
It's sometimes hard to believe that Sleeping By a Wire is unsigned, an album this attractive would be sure to find any willing label, but is this album ready for one? Providing itself in a separate space from most equally good albums, Bryan Eich situates himself in the best possible position. Being without a label, Sleeping By a Wire feels that much more uncommon, as though listeners are taking an audio tour through his thoughts and feelings he's fond of encountering. Much like anyone recounting old memories, times of difficulty are imminent. In the line, "I think I have to take a step back, retrace my thoughts." It's as though a commentary is playing during Eich's songs, telling listeners that he needs time to think, better grasp a feeling once lost. His storytelling and real depiction of emotion unwinds gracefully throughout his music. What makes Sleeping By a Wire such a strong album is its ability to accept its insecurities and vulnerabilities This makes the album that much more personal and that much more honest.
4/5 stars
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Sleeping By A Wire (2007) review
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Bryan Eich is a burgeoning pop mastermind that cannot possibly remain in obscurity for long. On his ...Bryan Eich is a burgeoning pop mastermind that cannot possibly remain in obscurity for long. On his debut, Sleeping By a Wire, Eich weaves dreamy, wistful ballads like “Can’t Wait for Long,” that are produced with indisputable acumen and written with a sensibility that rivals the classics. Effective arrangements and instrumentation aside, one example of the studio smarts at play would be the reverb occasionally added to Eich’s flawless, honey-n-sand tenor. It’s impressively judicious, adding just the right sense of depth and distance without compromising intimacy or clarity. The entire album is treated with such expert consideration, which only enhances what lays at the root – strong, golden songs of love and loss that, despite the well-worn subject, are fully original and thoroughly compelling.
“Everything” pulls some fancy studio tricks out of the hat, cutting suddenly through various atmospherics, including some scratchy-vinyl moments toward the end. “One That I Like” dabbles with electronic ornamentation, but remains rooted enough in the organic (Eich’s voice, some slight guitar, a harp stum) as to keep its feet close enough to the solid ground laid elsewhere throughout the album. “Time Will Come Over You” is smooth and longing like Wilco, with guitar accents and a bridge that reference the Beatles yet with perfect modesty. It’s no small feat to drop such stylistic hints without being either grandiose or derivative; Eich knows what he’s doing. Here’s to hoping some mighty label swoops in and snatches Bryan up, as not only does his sensibility thrive in the midst of quality production, but this kind of bulls-eye pop satisfaction deserves nothing short of airwave domination. The world would be a little sweeter with more Eich-waves in the radiosphere.
Favorite Track: “Time Will Come Over You”
http://www.onlinerock.com/CDreview/review_bryaneich.shtml
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Hard to believe this is his first album!
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Hard to believe this is his first album! He sounds like a seasoned professional - hooky, solid songw...Hard to believe this is his first album! He sounds like a seasoned professional - hooky, solid songwriting, nice arrangements & production, original vocals, quality musicianship
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Bryan Eich
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Bryan Eich is a talented artist and songwriter from New York, who has been playing guitar and making...Bryan Eich is a talented artist and songwriter from New York, who has been playing guitar and making songs since he was 13 years old. His music is brilliant, with catchy guitars and sampling tunes mixed with his nice voice, which I can compare to the famous "Thom Yorke", but with his own character. Right now he's preparing for his debut album which will be released in the end of the year. I really recommend him for you the soft-ear who seeking good original pop music out there.
Right now, just log on to his page to listen to his music and get more information about his debut album release
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Sleeping By a Wire review
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Bryan Eich has put together a CD of soft pop/rock easy listening tracks focused around lost love, ne...Bryan Eich has put together a CD of soft pop/rock easy listening tracks focused around lost love, new love and everything in between. The songs contain catchy guitar and rhythmic beat drums. Bryan has a hypnotic voice that has a lot of depth to it. I would describe his voice as smooth, smoky and meaningful. I really enjoyed each song on Bryan's CD even more than the one before it. Well maintained and currently updated Myspace and webpage. Overall Bryan is an artist with a lot of potential. His CD is very high quality and is well put together. Bryan has a very catchy sound that can be used for a variety of projects.
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Listening Booth: Bryan Eich, “Sleeping By a Wire” (2007)
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Fans of deliciously hooky Britpop (by way of Brooklyn) have a new best friend in Bryan Eich, whose d...Fans of deliciously hooky Britpop (by way of Brooklyn) have a new best friend in Bryan Eich, whose debut, Sleeping By a Wire, just landed at CD Baby. It’s so new it hasn’t even hit iTunes yet, but even if you normally prefer downloading to buying silver platters, you may want to make an exception in this case. The album’s that good. I, for instance, am not generally a fan of Britpop — deliciously hooky or otherwise — but I’m powerless against Wire’s charms. And my stereo? She wants to have Bryan Eich’s babies.
Your mileage will vary based on how original you ask your favorite bands to be. Eich’s songwriting is deeply derivative, so if you’re looking for someone to reinvent the wheel, you’re liable to spit this out half-chewed; similarly, if you’re demanding when it comes to lyrics, this record will probably have a few dozen too many “baby”s to suit your tastes. You could say Eich elevates imitation to an art form here, and mean it as either a compliment or an insult. (I’m 100% in the former camp.)
The album’s an indie production in every sense of the word — it was written by Eich and produced by the band (Eich, drummer Eitan Graff — who also handled most of the mixing — and utility infielder Assaf Spector). Eich even handled the artwork. Not bad for something that occasionally sounds like the best record Oasis never made.
The lyrics aren’t prizewinners, but Eich’s voice is pleasantly elastic, the hooks come fast and furious, and the production is appropriately top-heavy and clean. The album stumbles a bit toward the middle — I could have done without “Lost” — but don’t let that stop you. Start off with “Big Fish” (download) and “Can’t Wait for Long” (download) and then go order yourself a copy.
supersonic
