More than any of the albums before it, Dark Horse seems to push past the blurred lines of the genres. While many are included, individually the songs seem to fit in neater, more tightly wrapped packages. In contrast to the stark ballads of "Clyde" and "Stranded" there is the fun, upbeat "White Horse" challenging the perceptions of fairy-tale endings. "Throw Away the Past" is a moody bluesy mid-tempo asking if it's possible to "... throw away the past/ It’s not helping either of us/ Focus on what is and not what was." "Aimlessness" and "Weave" both rock out. With definitive rhythms and Himan's distinctive voice they are both sing-alongs as well as dance-alongs.
Also in 2005 came what seems to be the most natural of albums for this artist who is almost constantly performing live. One Night Stands is a live album recorded at various shows between March and July of 2005. It includes the most requested of his songs plus three previously unreleased tracks, "In My Shoes," "Let It In" (both live,) and a bonus studio version of the clever and catchy "Bartender" – a song that questions the appeal of those who deliver our drinks and lend a sympathetic ear and asks, "Why do I always fall in love with the bartender?"
If you've yet to see Eric Himan live, this album is an on-the-mark representation of a show. There are songs from every album and every style, complete with song introductions and banter. A Blogcritics' review of One Night Stands ran last October.
As our featured artist coverage continues this month we will take a closer look and review the newest release, Everywhere All At Once. Also look for an interview and Eric has agreed to give Blogcritics' readers the low-down on being an independent artist on an artist run label. News, song lyrics, and tour information can be found at the artist's official website. Streaming MP3s of four songs and some video are just a couple of the bonuses found at his Myspace profile page.
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