In
the spirit of Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and John Fogerty before
him, Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Eric Stuart delivers his songs
as messages with lyrics up front and shelters them with memorable
pop hooks. As good as Stuarts earlier albums were, his 2007
CD release, In The County Of Kings is his best yet. Stuarts
song lyrics and arrangements ramble round your head and gets your
foot tapping. When questioned about the CD title, Stuart claims, You
are right about the title, Brooklyn is Kings County. Since this is
my country-crossover album and I am born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y.
I thought I would come up with a county sounding title that cleverly
stated where I was from. I don't sing about 'my truck' or 'my farm'
but the American / country sensibilities are not unique to the south.
Songs with stories and relationships that every listener can relate
to are what I strive to write. I try to be honest with my music. This
title allowed me to be true to who I am while playing music you wouldn't
expect from a Brooklyn boy. When asked what kind of music is on this
album I have come up with a genre of my own, I say it's Concrete
Country. That was almost the title. Produced by Stuart
and long time accomplice / guitarist Questar Welsh, the fifteen
track In The County Of Kings features lots of great players
including top guitarist Phil Nix. Stuart was championed by
Ringo Starr and Peter Frampton back in the mid 90s and since
then hes had a winning streak of acclaimed records that cant
be beat. Regarding making such an authentic roots-rock album in Kings
County, Stuart further adds, The album was recorded in 2006
in New York. The tracking was at Avatar Studios. The overdubs at Real
recording and then we went back to Avatar to mix. When I presented
this project to some Nashville industry they al couldn't believe I
had made such a 'Nashville sounding' album in New York. They were
very impressed with the production. Long time Stuart believers
will dig the jaw-dropping asphalt country-rock in play on In The
County Of Kings. www.ericstuart.com