West (Mark Eitzel album)

Last updated
West
Westeitzel.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 6, 1997 (1997-05-06)
RecordedDecember 10–16, 1996
Studio Ironwood, Seattle, United States [1]
Genre Rock, singer–songwriter
Length53:33
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Peter Buck
Mark Eitzel chronology
Words and Music
(1997)
West
(1997)
Caught in a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Pitchfork Media 9.6/10 [3]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]

West is the fourth solo album by the American Music Club singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel, released by Warner Bros. Records in 1997. It includes songs co-written and produced by the R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck from October 15 to October 17, 1996. [1] [5]

Contents

Critical reception

The Chicago Tribune wrote that "with Buck producing and co-writing West, Eitzel has never been part of such an overtly inviting pop album." [6]

Track listing

All songs written by Buck and Eitzel, except where noted:

  1. "If You Have to Ask" – 4:20
  2. "Free of Harm" – 3:21
  3. "Helium" – 5:25
  4. "Stunned & Frozen" – 5:10
  5. "Then It Really Happens" – 4:28
  6. "In Your Life" – 4:04
  7. "Lower Eastside Tourist" – 3:49
  8. "Three Inches of Wall" – 4:48
  9. "Move Myself Ahead" – 3:35
  10. "Old Photographs" – 5:22
  11. "Fresh Screwdriver" – 3:59
  12. "Live or Die" (Eitzel) – 5:14

Personnel

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Murmur</i> (album) 1983 studio album by R.E.M.

Murmur is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on April 12, 1983, by I.R.S. Records. Murmur drew critical acclaim upon its release for its unusual sound, defined by lead singer Michael Stipe's cryptic lyrics, guitarist Peter Buck's jangly guitar style, and bass guitarist Mike Mills's melodic basslines.

<i>Automatic for the People</i> 1992 album by R.E.M.

Automatic for the People is the eighth studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released by Warner Bros. Records on October 5, 1992, in the United Kingdom and Europe, and on the following day in the United States. R.E.M. began production on the album while their previous album, Out of Time (1991), was still ascending top albums charts and achieving global success. Aided by string arrangements from John Paul Jones and conducted by George Hanson, Automatic for the People features ruminations on mortality, loss, mourning, and nostalgia.

<i>Out of Time</i> (album) 1991 album by R.E.M.

Out of Time is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on March 12, 1991, by Warner Bros. Records. With Out of Time, R.E.M.'s status grew from that of a cult band to a massive international act. The record topped the album sales charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom, spending 109 weeks on U.S. album charts and enjoying two separate spells at the summit, and spending 183 weeks on the British charts and a single week at the top. The album has sold more than four and a half million copies in the United States and more than 18 million copies worldwide. The album won three Grammy Awards in 1992: one as Best Alternative Music Album, and two for the first single, "Losing My Religion."

<i>Fables of the Reconstruction</i> 1985 album by R.E.M.

Fables of the Reconstruction, also known as Reconstruction of the Fables, is the third studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on I.R.S. Records on June 10, 1985. The Joe Boyd-produced album was the first recorded by the group outside the United States. Many of the album's lyrics take inspiration from Southern Gothic themes and characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Buck</span> American guitarist for R.E.M., songwriter

Peter Lawrence Buck is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his career with R.E.M. (1980–2011), as well as during his subsequent solo career, Buck has also been at various times an official member of numerous 'side project' groups. These groups included Arthur Buck, Hindu Love Gods, The Minus 5, Tuatara, The Baseball Project, Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3, Tired Pony, The No-Ones, and Filthy Friends, each of which have released at least one full-length studio album. Additionally, the experimental combo Slow Music have released an official live concert CD. Another side project group called Full Time Men released an EP while Buck was a member. As well, ad hoc "supergroups" Bingo Hand Job, Musical Kings and Nigel & The Crosses have each commercially released one track.

<i>New Adventures in Hi-Fi</i> 1996 R.E.M. album

New Adventures in Hi-Fi is the tenth studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was their fifth major-label release for Warner Bros. Records, released on September 9, 1996, in Europe and Australia, and the following day in the United States. New Adventures in Hi-Fi was the last album recorded with founding member Bill Berry, original manager Jefferson Holt, and long-time producer Scott Litt. The members of R.E.M. consider the recorded album representative of the band at their peak, and fans generally regard it as the band's last great record before a perceived artistic decline during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It has sold around seven million units, growing in cult status years after its release, with several retrospectives ranking it among the top of the band's recorded catalogue.

<i>Ill Sleep When Im Dead (An Anthology)</i> 1996 compilation album by Warren Zevon

I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead is a two-disc compilation album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, released on Rhino Records in 1996. It spans his career from his eponymous debut album on Asylum Records to date of release, ignoring his disowned initial album from 1969, Wanted Dead or Alive. It contains tracks from all ten of his albums released during this period, and includes contributions to soundtracks and his one-off album with members of R.E.M., Hindu Love Gods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Minus 5</span> American pop rock band

The Minus 5 is an American pop rock band headed by musician Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows, often in partnership with R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.

<i>Summerteeth</i> 1999 studio album by Wilco

Summerteeth is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band Wilco, released on March 9, 1999, by Reprise Records. The album was heavily influenced lyrically by 20th century literature, as well as singer Jeff Tweedy's marital problems. Unlike previous albums, Summerteeth was heavily overdubbed in the studio with Pro Tools. Tweedy and Jay Bennett wrote most of the album in the studio, a contrast to the band's previous albums, which were often recorded live by the entire band with minimal overdubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio Song</span> 1991 song by R.E.M

"Radio Song" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released as the fourth single from their seventh album, Out of Time (1991), where it appears as the opening track. Lead singer Michael Stipe once said that he hoped everyone had enough sense of humor to realize that he was "kind of taking the piss of everyone," himself included. Stipe also asked KRS-One, leader of Boogie Down Productions, to contribute to the track. He provides some backing vocals for the track, as well as a closing rap, and appears prominently in the video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott McCaughey</span> American musician

Scott Lewis McCaughey is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter and the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. He was also an auxiliary member of the American rock band R.E.M. from 1994 until the band's break-up in 2011, contributing to the studio albums New Adventures in Hi-Fi, Up, Reveal, Around the Sun, Accelerate and Collapse into Now.

<i>March 16–20, 1992</i> 1992 studio album by Uncle Tupelo

March 16–20, 1992 is the third studio album by alternative country band Uncle Tupelo, released on August 3, 1992. The title refers to the five-day span during which the album was recorded. An almost entirely acoustic recording, the album features original songs and covers of traditional folk songs in near equal number, and was produced by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Eitzel</span> American musician

Mark Eitzel is an American musician, best known as a songwriter and lead singer of the San Francisco band American Music Club.

<i>Caught in a Trap and I Cant Back Out Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby</i> 1998 studio album by Mark Eitzel

Caught in a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby is the fifth solo album by the American Music Club singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel, released in 1998. A starker follow-up to his previous album, it was the first album he released for the independent label Matador Records. The album has contributions from the Sonic Youth member Steve Shelley, the guitarist Kid Congo Powers and the Yo La Tengo bass guitarist James McNew.

<i>The Lonesome Death of Buck McCoy</i> 1997 studio album by The Minus 5

The Lonesome Death of Buck McCoy is an album by American rock band The Minus 5. Their final release of new material for Hollywood Records, it was released in 1997. The album was met with positive reception from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texarkana (song)</span> 1991 song performed by R.E.M.

"Texarkana" is a song from R.E.M.'s studio album Out of Time. Though not released as an official single, it managed to chart at number 4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 6 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. This song was written, musically and lyrically, by bassist Mike Mills, as vocalist Michael Stipe had been having problems for weeks trying to come up with lyrics for it. As a result, Mills also sang lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Test Leper</span> Song by R.E.M

"New Test Leper" is a song by R.E.M., included on their tenth studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi, which was released in 1996. It wasn't released as a single; its only non-album issue was on a 1996 Germany-only-released Warner Bros. Records promotional CD. The song was also included in the greatest hits compilation Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011, released in 2011 soon after the group disbanded. The song was played live throughout the Up tour in 1998 and 1999. In 2003, it was played live for two concerts, was played once in 2005, once in 2007, and one final time in 2008.

<i>Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr</i> 2007 greatest hits album by Ringo Starr

Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr is a career-spanning best-of compilation album by Ringo Starr and is the first such album since the releases of 1975's Blast from Your Past and 1989's Starr Struck: Best of Ringo Starr, Vol. 2. The album was released in the UK on 27 August 2007, and in the US on 28 August.

<i>Loose</i> (Victoria Williams album) 1994 studio album by Victoria Williams

Loose is the third studio album by American singer/songwriter Victoria Williams, released in 1994.

<i>She Remembers Everything</i> 2018 studio album by Rosanne Cash

She Remembers Everything is Rosanne Cash's fourteenth album. The album was released on November 2, 2018, as well as Cash's second album for Blue Note Records. The album was produced by Tucker Martine, and Cash's husband John Leventhal, Cash co-wrote every song on the album. The track "Crossing to Jerusalem" received a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song nomination at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

References

  1. 1 2 Phalen, Tom (May 16, 1997). "Album collaborations of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  2. Ankeny, Jason. "Mark Eitzel: West". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. Schreiber, Ryan. "Mark Eitzel: West". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  4. Kot, Greg. "Mark Eitzel: West". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  5. Kaufman, Gil (February 1, 1997). "Mark Eitzel, Peter Buck & Tuatara Crew to Hit the Road". MTV . Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  6. Kot, Greg (8 May 1997). "EVERYONE, IT SEEMS, IS IMPRESSED WITH SONGWRITER MARK EITZEL--EXCEPT MARK EITZEL". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 8 July 2020.