Eitzel catches listeners in lyrics

Mark Eitzel has maintained a cult following since his early days as founder, writer and frontman for American Music Club. He also is currently the acting commissioner of all things dark and gloomy for legions of listeners who prefer their musical lifestyles to transpire in the alcohol-drenched side alleys of the Prozac nightscape.

And although Eitzel may not be the happiest man in the music industry, he has every reason to be pleased with the path his career has wandered since his solo bid began in 1994. Following last summer's release of "West," a stunning collaboration with R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, Eitzel has continued to develop his musical craft on his newest release "Caught In a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much Baby."

Courtesy of Warner Brothers Mark Eitzel brings his cunning style and charisma to the Magic Stick tonight at 8 p.m. celebrating his latest release, "Caught In a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much Baby."

"I actually recorded this album about a week before the album with Buck," Eitzel said in a recent interview, explaining the close proximity (eight months) in which the two albums were released. "This album was very specifically in a certain mindset," he added. "I made it one thing."

And although Buck's intrinsic upbeat pop sensibility is noticeably absent from "Caught," the album's own depressive nature is more comforting than it is suffocating.

In fact, it is even possible to detect a glimmer of hope underneath the singer's perma-rasp on songs like "Sun Smog Seahorse" which closes the album in a gorgeous swirl of guitar and emotion.

Because a lack of sonic details and textures have been introduced on this album, the listener is forced to concentrate on Eitzel's words and the many subtle and raw harmonies created by his often finger-picked guitar melodies. But did Eitzel purposefully try to make "Caught" even more of a lyrically expressive offering than previous albums?

"Maybe I did," Eitzel said. "I recorded nine songs with the band, so I was gonna do nine songs with them and two acoustic. And then, after I recorded the nine songs, I kinda felt like five of them sucked, so I had to do something else."

PREVIEW
	Mark Eitzel Magic Stick Tonight at 8 p.m.

That "something else" ended up becoming the bulk of "Caught," which remained mostly acoustic simply because Eitzel's band, guitarist Kid Congo Powers (Gun Club, Cramps and Congo Norvell), bassist James McNew (Yo La Tengo), and drummer Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), was unable to stay with him in the studio due to various touring commitments.

Nonetheless, Eitzel's bitter incisiveness cuts through most of "Caught," especially on "White Rosary," where he croons, "Rest a cold hand on your forehead/ A comfort instead of a cure."

Yes, its true - Eitzel not only understands life's bittersweet ups and downs, but he also knows how to sing about them with just the right amounts of gritty despair and seduction to make the listener grateful for his sympathetic musical therapy.

For all those with and without a myriad of psychological trauma in tow, tonight Eitzel will bring himself and his acoustic guitar to the Magic Stick in Detroit, along with opener Sue Garner, of the Runons.

And although you probably won't have to fight through crowds of thousands to experience Eitzel's unique unobtrusiveness, do expect exposure to brilliant songwriting, untainted by the ills of commercial success.

Forget about fancy light shows or glittery back-up singers. Eitzel and his acoustic shall speak for themselves.

Perhaps the talented artist said it best - "I'm a songwriter - I just write songs."

04-07-98