Eric Heatherly - Lower East Side of Life

After a long five year stint between albums, Eric took things into his own hands on "The Lower East Side of Life" and it really shows. There's a passion here that wasn't always evident on his first CD and there's definitely a distinctive artistic identity and a willingness to step out on a limb and take a chance with song subjects.

After releasing one Top 10 hit (his debut single "Flowers On The Wall") and a CD ("Swimming In Chapagne") for Mercury Records Nashville and releasing a few failed singles for Dreamworks, Eric Heatherly left the world of the major labels for the artistic freedom of independence. Originally intending to release "The Lower East Side Of Life" himself, Eric instead found a label that loved what they heard without wanting any changes: Koch Records Nashville (formerly known as Audium Records).

And what a great record it is. The first track "Judging Beauty" is the perfect way to start the record and it's a rollicking good time with sing-a-long type choruses all wrapped up in a lyric that is too true. Next up is a 'rant' kind of song about the 'poseurs' in the music industry who claim to be guitar players while they really couldn't play more than a chord. Since Eric's been a guitar genius his whole life, he has room to criticize. "Ruin" is an interesting love song in that it says "you're gonna ruin, ruin my bad day." "Whatever Happened…" find Eric finding his old yearbook and wondering how the time flew by and where the dreams went. "Who Needs Enemies (With Friends Like You)" is another tough song about the way corporations (sometimes labels) treat their employees despite the company 'culture' of being a "family-like business).

"The Lower East side Of Life" is a wonderfully crafted collection of songs that fans of alternative country and modern country music alike will enjoy.