Close to Home by Eric Devries

Eric Devries – 'Close to Home' (Continental Europe CECD52) Eric Devries' third solo CD 'Close to Home' was released in june 2014 and got great reviews in the music press. Critics mentioned his songwriting skills were up to par to the likes of Guy Clark or Rodney Crowell. Some described the CD to be one of the best 'Americana' records that was ever released in the Netherlands by a dutch songwriter. And by listening everyone agrees that 'Close to Home' is an outstanding album by all international standards. His name got established first in '92 when he came in second in the biggest talent hunting competition 'De Grote Prijs van Nederland' with his band 'The Big Easy'. They toured the Netherlands and Switzerland but unable land a record deal in those days the band quit in '97. It wasn;t untill 2004 that Devries finally released his debut CD 'Little of a Romeo' that got him straight to the top of the Dutch Americana songwriting scene. (“.. natural successor to Rodney Crowell..” “..whole album full of little gems..”) Eric Devries formed a collective with three colleques under the name of 'Songwriters United' and released a 'live' DVD and a CD called 'Another Round with.. Songwriters United'. His second solo album 'Sweet Oblivion' appeared in 2007 and featured three songs that Devries recorded while on tour in Oklahoma, USA. Two more extended tours in Oklahoma followed. Devries also started hosting a series of concerts with singer-songwriters in the cities of Nijmegen, Utrecht and in his beloved Amsterdam. All the while continuing to perform live himself – week in week out – at venues and festivals where he entertains and touches audiences with his stories, his voice, and his wicked finger-picking guitar style. About 'Close to Home': It’s been seven years since 'Sweet Oblivion' was released, but in June 2014 Eric Devries' third album ‘Close to Home’ will be hitting the shelves. Was the delay a case of ‘seven years’ bad luck’, or an example of ‘life is what happens while you're busy making other plans’? Neither and both. As the title, 'Close to Home', suggests, this album is his most biographical so far. Love and goodbyes, life and death, regrets and starting over – set against a background of different places and spaces. Devries sings about his hometown Amsterdam in one song, and takes the listener on a road trip through places like Tulsa, Birmingham – and even Jerusalem – in another. The themes that Devries uses to paint a picture in song – at times up close and personal, and others tongue in cheek – are a wry and rocking celebration of life with all its ups and downs. The 70’s singer-songwriter storytelling tradition but with a modern twist. Close to Home was produced by fellow artist and producer BJ Baartmans, with whom Eric also coordinated in recent years a CD and DVD showcasing the talents of the Dutch ‘Songwriter United’ collective. Instrumental back up on ‘Close to Home’ was provided by the best artists that Devries and Baartmans – in their years of joint touring – have come across and often performed with. adding a great element of musical intuition, familiarity and spontaneity. ℗ 2014 Continental Europe