The Lower East Side of Life

Amazon.com
With a hit remake of "Flowers on the Wall," a flashy image as a rockabilly dude, and a reputation as a hotshot guitarist, Eric Heatherly seemed to have everything going for him in 2000. Five years later, Heatherly returns older, wiser, and angrier, with an album that chronicles the "Dark Days" (as one song title puts it) that followed such bright prospects. He lashes out at the betrayal of a music industry exec on "Who Needs Enemies (With Friends Like You)," ridicules a generation of videogenic stars with no musical chops on "Hang It on Your Heart," and provides a sequel of sorts to "Flowers" with "Workin' My Way Down." Yet this self-produced effort shows that Heatherly has found creative satisfaction now that he's no longer a cog in the music industry machine, with the title track celebrating a livelier Nashville than you'll find along Music Row and the album-opening "Judging Beauty" sharpening the rock & roll edge of Heatherly's brand of country. Amid the album's tales of hard times, "Love Story Love" shows Heatherly's softer side, in the tenderness of a father's devotion to his daughter. --Don McLeese

Tracks:

Judging Beauty
Hang It On Your Heart
Job
Ruin
Whatever Happened...
The Lower East Side Of Life
Who Needs Enemies (With Family Like You)
Dark Days
Go Where You Hide
Love Story Love
Way Down

Amazon.com

With a hit remake of "Flowers on the Wall," a flashy image as a rockabilly dude, and a reputation as a hotshot guitarist, Eric Heatherly seemed to have everything going for him in 2000. Five years later, Heatherly returns older, wiser, and angrier, with an album that chronicles the "Dark Days" (as one song title puts it) that followed such bright prospects. He lashes out at the betrayal of a music industry exec on "Who Needs Enemies (With Friends Like You)," ridicules a generation of videogenic stars with no musical chops on "Hang It on Your Heart," and provides a sequel of sorts to "Flowers" with "Workin' My Way Down." Yet this self-produced effort shows that Heatherly has found creative satisfaction now that he's no longer a cog in the music industry machine, with the title track celebrating a livelier Nashville than you'll find along Music Row and the album-opening "Judging Beauty" sharpening the rock & roll edge of Heatherly's brand of country. Amid the album's tales of hard times, "Love Story Love" shows Heatherly's softer side, in the tenderness of a father's devotion to his daughter. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

Thanks, Eric!.......2005-07-14

Like many others, I've been waiting to hear more of Eric Heatherly. I was so excited to see "Lower East Side" on the racks at the store that I had it ripped open and stood there reading the liner notes before I even got out the doors (surprised I wasn't accosted by the security guards). When I popped it into my cd player, I found it was one of those rare finds: I liked EVERY track. It's really difficult for an artist to hit on the right combination of variety on an album and still make every track appealing, but Eric has certainly done it. Thanks, Eric, for getting your music out to us. We expect more of this great stuff!

Cindy

Brilliant!.......2005-05-26

Eric Heatherly is back - although most everyone will never notice, as this sound most likely won't make it to commercial radio, which is a huge shame! Granted, it would be a difficult decision, what format to put him on, as there are so many ingredients in this spicy and delicious meal. However this off-the-middle-of-the-road makes this album so unique and exciting and all his own, not only because he wrote it and played it, but also because he probably lived most of it. Smokey vocals, cool guitar riffs and thumping percussion deliver angry, yet at places tender lyrics. If country can afford to let a talent and a unique sound like the one of Eric Heatherly fall by the wayside, it is definitely their loss - and we should think about defining a new format, that is capable of bringing this exciting new music to the world!

One of the best albums I've ever had the pleasure of hearing.......2005-05-11

I love music; as such, I readily bought Eric Heatherly's debut album, SWIMMING IN CHAMPAGNE, when it came out several years ago. "Flowers on the Wall" seemed ready to propel him into stardom...then he disappeared. But he returns here, his songwriting better, his musicianship more apparent, his voice still full of talent and absolutely no BS.

Blending traditional country with sixties rock, pop, blues, and pretty much everything else, Heatherly has crafted an album that may not make it all the way up the charts (or even make much of a dent), yet is guaranteed to please its listeners. Such catchy rhythms as "Judging Beauty" and the title track hide their darker sides...and sometimes he doesn't even bother to hide it, as on the stark "Dark Days" and the scathing "Who Needs Enemies (With Family Like You)" (Don't send me no Christmas cards/with a crucifix 'neath the stars/You're a modern day Judas/Yeah I know who you are). And yet, the reminiscent "Whatever Happened...To Me", the genuinely romantic "Go Where You Hide," and the tender "Love Story Love" (written for his daughter) all attest that this guy also has a softer side. Who'd figure, after hearing him curse out "poser" artists on "Hang It On Your Heart."

A talented singer, songwriter, and musician (he played most instruments on the album), Eric Heatherly has more talent than most of Music Row combined. Maybe that's why they don't seem to want him. What the hey--WE want him, and we're glad to have him. THE LOWER EAST SIDE OF LIFE is a terrific album, one of the best I've ever purchased (and I've purchased quite a few in my day). Trust me, you are not going to regret buying this record.

I'm no expert - but here's my Judgment! ;).......2005-05-09

Everybody's guilty of judging beauty - but in this case, what's the crime? Because once enough music lovers have heard this set of songs, Eric Heatherly shouldn't be on the " lower east side of life " much longer.

Whatever happened since Heatherly's 2000 album release? He was told to make the albums he wanted to. So he did ... and was dropped from not one but two major labels before those records ever hit stores.

Five years later, he has both a daughter and a dog to thank in the liner notes of this second " official " CD, for which he holed up for 18 months, pouring out his soul.

Not only that, he penned every word on it - mostly alone, but two with co-writes (including his sister on Go Where You Hide). And he played almost all the instruments.

The guitar-slinger traverses themes of unapologetic love (Hide, Ruin) and angst-filled industry shout-outs (Who Needs Enemies, Hang it On Your Heart) to life roles (Job).

Way Down delivers a musical lead-in similar to Flowers on the Wall, from his first album, with a lyrical about-face. And first single Judging Beauty calls out everybody who's too wrapped up in appearances. (With lines like "everyone's an expert at judging beauty...critiquing you down like a bad b movie")

Lower East Side of Life's genre is a tough one to pin down. It delves deeply into rocking country but also touches on blues, reflective guitar/vocals and more. There's something here for everyone.

And hey, if you insist on judging beauty, Heatherly ain't bad to look at, either....-Melissa

Fantastic Record.......2005-04-28

I remember first hearing Eric Heatherly's cover of "Flowers On The Wall" and thinking to myself Nashville had finally put out an artist worth his salt for the first time in a LONG time. Five years later I'm writing a review for his fourth record (due to record company ignorance, this is the second to be released!) and I can confidently say this album is truly what one would call a career album. Where to begin....First off, Heatherly tackles on the producer role and plays almost all of the instruments. He has build a nice setting for his vocals and amazing guitar playing shines nicely without coming off as the work of a showoff. His lyrics are introspective, funny, dark and sweet. Songs like "Who Needs Enemies" and "Hang It On Your Heart" show Heatherly's dark side, but he never once loses his cool and humor, making the songs have a deeper impact on the listener. "Ruin" and "Whatever Happened" look back on present/lost love that anyone can relate to. For anyone who bought Heatherly's debut album 5 years ago and wonders if he's still got some of that rockabilly soul in him need not worry, he shines on the title track and the stinging "tribute" to his signature hit per "Way Down". This album is not a country album, nor is it watered down pop. It is the work of a man who seems more comfortable making good music without all of the pressures that Nashvegas dishes out.

Music Album:

Music Album