Artist: Eric Olson
Album: Acoustic Remedies
Review by: Heath Andrews

There are few simpler joys in life than the sound of a talented man playing his guitar and singing. That's really the heart of what Acoustic Remedies is about. The ten tracks on the album are nothing more than Olson singing and playing his heart out. While not the greatest vocalist in the world, Olson's voice is pleasant enough to work with the music that flows from his fingertips, which is also where the album's strength comes from. Olson is a very talented guitarist, and his melodies and playing range from pleasant to enthralling.

Olson begins with his song, "Angel." Immediately evident is how rich the guitar tone is and how clearly it rings through on the recording. Every note that he strums and picks comes through brilliantly, and as he solos off of the main melody, this quality becomes all the more enjoyable. "Angel" has enough action going on the fretboard to where the song would function fine as an instrumental let alone with a vocal accompaniment. As Olson sings about meeting up with his titular angel to make their sins "free", he throws out a few snappy lines, including, "It wasn't my choice to be thrown at the lions/But even lions need something to eat."

"Grow" is the song to follow, and as the longest song on the album, clocks in at a little over five minutes. Olson creates a very lovely melody that he basically rides from start to finish. Lyrically, the song talks about personal love and growth. During the chorus, Olson sings "You need love for your brother, love for your mother..." and then from out of left field comes, "Love for the ganja and love for each other." Suddenly, the song takes on an entirely different meaning. It's a very odd turnabout in the lyric that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense and comes across as a laughable moment in an otherwise serious song.

Amongst his original pieces, Olson also includes some well known covers. Likely the most familiar to people will be "All Along The Watchtower." Fitting for an album titled Acoustic Remedies, Olson's version is based on the acoustic guitar, and is therefore more akin to Bob Dylan's original version of the song, as opposed to the popularized Jimi Hendrix cover. Olson throws in a harmonica part as well, but honestly, it doesn't add much to the piece that his stellar guitar work doesn't already convey. His voice is also in good form here, reading through Dylan's tried and true lyric with strong tone and clarity. Again, it's the guitar that mostly does the talking, especially when Olson solos, and is able to maintain the basic melody while expanding upon it with intensity and urgency.

Not as well done is his cover of the David Bowie classic, "Heroes." The performance of the song itself is fine, but it's the interpretation that's problematic. The original version is dark, bleak, and captures the dread and despair of a war-torn Berlin. Here, Olson's arrangement is downright plucky, and he goes so far as to chuckle when singing the line, "And you, you can be mean/And I'll, I'll drink all the time..." He attempts to inject some levity into the piece, but unfortunately, this doesn't fit with the song's narrative. On the other hand, "Death Letter," originally by bluesman Son House, is not as woeful as the original, but isn't sung gleefully either. Much to his credit, Olson is able to turn this song into a fantastic boot-stomping number, while drawing upon the blues and showing off some intricate guitar work.

Also worth noting is the wonderfully sentimental "Box Of Clementimes" and the low-key beauty that is "New Orleans." The latter begins with some especially rich imagery before diving into a deep instrumental section that once again highlights Eric Olson's ability to maintain a strong basic melody, solo from it, and never stray too far from the musical theme of the piece. Aside from a couple hit or miss tracks, (i.e. Heroes and the all too brief "Crutch") there's nothing but delightfully enjoyable selections of music presented here. Acoustic Remedies is a great collection of songs that showcase what a talented guitarist can do with his instrument.

Review by Heath Andrews
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Artist: Eric Olson
Song Title: “Grow”
Review by Zack Daggy
The Mothpodcast


Eric Olson is a student of music by day and a rock star by night. While pursuing a degree in music composition at Columbia College, he performs his original material on stages around the greater Chicago area, and still finds time to teach his craft to others. One original song of his that’s gaining a lot of attention is the track “Grow.”

To put it simply, “Grow” is about growing up and growing weed. On the one hand it’s a song about coming of age. It talks of going through changes in life and how one day you’ll be “too old to run away.” On the other hand it’s a song about marijuana. With lyrics like “You need love for your brother, love for your mother, love for the ganja and love for each other,” it’s easy to see a bit of a reggae influence to Olson’s song writing. The subject matter of growing old is a universal one. It’s something that every listener can relate to. Mixing in the marijuana references may take away from the song for some, and add to it for others. Regardless of how it’s perceived, it an inventive blend of messages that really shows off Olson’s lyrical prowess.

“Grow” is definitely a song that is heavily influenced by the sounds of the 60’s. Bob Dylan in particular seems to have left his mark. It’s his folk/rock style with a simple acoustic guitar driven melody. Since it’s only a guitar and Olson’s voice throughout the song, it naturally has a much deeper feel to it than a traditional rock song. There is a weight to Olson’s voice that is captivating. It’s gravelly and melodic yet still feels energetic. The guitar work is superb. Olson flawlessly transitions between serene melodies and harder rock throughout the song. The melody he creates is simple on the surface, yet extraordinarily complex.

Eric Olson may be studying music composition, but he certainly sounds like a veteran of the music industry. With his single “Grow,” you won’t find your cliché bubblegum track with fluff lyrics. You’ll find a track with quality music and meaningful lyrics. You’ll find a song by a professional.


Review by Zack Daggy
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)