Eric Hutchinson - Moving Up Living Down (Édition Studio Masters) (2012) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. Talk Is Cheap
02. Best Days
03. The Basement
04. Watching You Watch Him
05. Breakdown More
06. The People I Know
07. Living in the Afterlife
08. In the First Place
09. I'm Not Cool
10. Not There Yet
11. Lisa


Eric Hutchinson introduced himself to the music scene four years ago with his debut album 'Sounds Like This'. His clever lyrics and catchy melodies made it difficult not to sing along and have a good time. With his sophomore effort, 'Moving Up Living Down', Hutchinson delivers more playful tunes that induce plenty of head bopping, toe-tapping and even some booty-shaking. The singer-songwriter fuses pop, rock, folk and blues to form his soulful sound. Together with his witty lyrics, upbeat melodies and sometimes reggae-infused tracks, his music is sometimes reminiscent of Jason Mraz. However, Hutchinson manages to transcend genres more effortlessly, making him someone to get excited about if you aren’t already.

The opening track, “Talk Is Cheap,” starts out sounding like a Motown-inspired tune, but later transforms into a reggae-infused mid-tempo song that shies away from being considered laid-back with Hutchinson’s soulfully executed vocals.

“Best Days” proves to be one of the more pop-laden tracks, but Hutchinson’s relatable and sincere lyrics make this song one that will resonate with twenty and thirty-something’s as he sings, “And as I’m struggling on my own/ I have to think I’m not alone.”

Switching gears, Hutchinson takes us back to the 60s and 70s with the bluesy, funk sounds of “The Basement.” An homage to greats like Stevie Wonder, Ronald Isley, Otis Redding, and many more he mentions in the song’s bridge, this track will have you clapping, dancing and hoping there’s a Bruno Mars collaboration in the works. Luckily, we later get a 80s-inpired, funk-laden track with “Living In The Afterlife.”

Hutchinson’s current single, “Watching You Watch Him” is a standout tune about a love triangle. It’s the juxtaposition of upbeat melody and heartbreaking sentiment here that makes this song so special. He laments, “God only knows why I still wait around/Except I hate to see you cry/And I need you/But there are things I cannot do.”

“Breakdown More” provides a change of pace being the only ballad on the record, but still manages to grab you with honest lyrics that tug at your heartstrings.

Hutchinson’s blue-eyed soul and Motown influences are further reflected in “The People I Know.” He tells stories of relationships with people in his life set to the backdrop of classic sounds. It’s this seamless combination of storytelling with old-fashioned melodies that invoke similarities to masters like Billy Joel.

Eric Hutchinson has a brilliant way of incorporating his musical influences with life experience to bring something quirky, fun and meaningful to his music. His final track, “Not There Yet,” simply states, “Everyone is sayin I’m all grown up/I’ve come a long way but I’m not there yet” and it’s something we can all relate to. (Nina Ellis, www.thedeceptivecadence.com)

Hutchinson recorded Moving Up Living Down with Mike Elizondo (Eminem, Regina Spektor) in California and Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, James Morrison) in London after writing the songs at home in New York City. Road-tested in every setting from a converted garage in Salt Lake City to the 30,000-seat Calgary Saddledome, from San Diego to Dubai, the songs reflect an ever-broadening musical palate, from the exuberant folk-pop bounce of 'Watching You Watch Him' to the reggae lilt of opener 'Talk is Cheap' and the soul grounding of 'The Basement.'

'The album's called Moving Up Living Down because it's about the chutes and ladders nature of life,' explains Hutchinson. 'There's no end game. It's about growing pains and I think I've grown a lot since the first album. This is the next step. I feel lucky, really lucky.'

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