Karl Eisenhart first came into view for me with the debut album by his band Pinnacle. Since then, he has performed with Simon Godfrey (Tinyfish, Valdez) as part of Tribe of Names and acoustic duo Red with Chris Michels. Although he regularly performs solo, Lessons is Eisenhart’s first solo album. After 20 plus years, he might just have recorded his finest musical statement yet. Lessons is both incredibly personal and universal, poignant and rocking, prog and not.
An acoustic guitar sets the idyllic scene for opening epic A Different Empire. After verse one the song opens up and slides into prog heaven for an extended interlude. Verse two introduces a cool 5/4 time signature, one of numerous changes throughout the song and the album. Empire, like most everything on the album lyrically, is an autobiographical tale about growing up in and growing out of a small town life. Eisenhart captures the passion of these memories with his vocal turn, which is the best I’ve heard him sound so far. There are hints of a multitude of influences (check out his website for an explanation of the bands and authors who he quotes or uses for inspiration on each track), but they all blend together seamlessly. The ending guitar solo perfectly sums up the beauty and the tragedy of old towns failing to make the transition to a better future. The most interesting thing about this song for me, though, is that every time I hear it, I hear a different song. There is so much going on that each listen led me down another path. That, from me, is a high compliment.
With an introduction following hot on the heels of Rush’s Red Barchetta, I Am. I Think. I Will. settles into its own defiant evocation of an eleven year old boy fighting back against the world around him. The moods switch easily and smoothly, a hallmark of many of the songs on this album. Collision Course is one of the more rollicking pieces. It adds space for the verses and layers on the harmony vocals for the chorus to counter the pummeling guitars and organ. Chris Michels’ violin weaves in and out of the chaos as off-kilter rhythms and time changes keep the music busy without feeling cluttered. Black Telecaster, with vocals by Matt Franceso, will resonate with anyone who has ever been seduced by the siren song of an electric guitar. This piece has been getting airplay, and rightfully so. It’s about the power of music to pull you through life’s difficult realities. The joy in the outro solo is palpable as the protagonist reconnects with his old guitar.
The Island and Ready Made are effective acoustic turns which add some light and air to the proceedings. The former is a melodic and wistful affair mirroring the hubris and regret that come with thinking you are smarter than everyone around you. The latter is a lively waltz-time story of Eisenhart meeting a woman with two children and falling in love with each in turn. Lessons is an album in which the lyrics are as essential as the music for a full appreciation, and Ready Made is a fine example. As is Ninety Years, a subdued track which leaves room for the vocals to take center stage. Ostensibly the story of an old woman’s (grandma?) life, it is touching and a real heart-tugger. Even the guitar solo feels restrained, as if in awe of the life it celebrates. The lyrical quotes from Marillion’s Estonia (“No one leaves you when they live in your heart and mind”) are well-placed and heighten the connection between the singer and the subject of the song. The final verses relating to the woman’s passing are made all the more evocative by the use of a soft electric piano accompaniment before the chorus triumphantly returns to wrap things up.
A gentle piano figure and plaintive guitar set the scene for what you just know will be a nostalgic walk through memories in An Old Photograph Of The Future. This time the subject is not a person, but rather a 150 year old house. Having endured from the end of slavery to man landing on the moon, the song remains as delicate as a long-ago recollection. Only when Eisenhart sings of wishing for the house to share its secrets and history with him does the music open up like a magnificent flower. Downstream follows, another gentle acoustic piece wearing its emotions proudly. Eisenhart’s voice is full of appreciation for love and lessons learned.
Blue Flags is the sole instrumental on the album. It’s a fine exercise not just in chops but also in the ability to coherently express them in service to the song. It rocks while keeping melody at the fore, beautifully reflecting Eisenhart’s ability to incorporate several ideas and moods into any given song. An 80s Youth is a clear-eyed look backward at a tumultuous decade (“a decade of greed fueled by cocaine”). Sung by guest vocalist Simon Godfrey, it incorporates 80s synth sounds but keeps the guitar up front.
The album ends with Valerie Borman taking a strong vocal turn on Eight Things. A majestic synth fanfare opens before giving way to acoustic piano. When Eisenhart joins with harmony vocals on the second chorus, the music swells and invites a breadth of sounds, building in strength without becoming overwhelming. Powerful and heartfelt (“Will I know your spirit when I see it again?”), this is a song whose seven minutes feel as if they could have been extended without wearing thin. If I have a criticism, it is that with all the drama, the song ends abruptly. There is a sense of something left unsaid, not lyrically, but musically. Personally, I believe the song would have benefitted from a more definitive and expansive coda.
One of the great joys of reviewing music is that you get to hear things that might not otherwise cross your path. Karl Eisenhart’s Lessons would likely have been nothing more than radio-friendly track Black Telecaster, and that would have been a shame. This is an album of deep emotions which come through in both the words and music; they have to be heard together to be fully enjoyed. Listen to Lessons to connect with one man’s experiences and to more deeply appreciate your own.
TRACK LISTING
01. A Different Empire (11:24)
02. I Am. I Think. I Will. (5:02)
03. Collision Course (6:21)
04. Black Telecaster (6:23)
05. The Island (2:35)
06. Ready Made (4:14)
07. Ninety Years (7:03)
08. An Old Photograph Of The Future (6:22)
09. Downstream (2:43)
10. Blue Flags (3:45)
11. An 80s Youth (4:11)
12. Eight Things (7:20)
Total Time – 67:23
MUSICIANS
Karl Eisenhart – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Drum Programming
John Eisenhart – Guitars (7)
Patricia Eisenhart – Flute (1)
Mike Antonovich – Bass (6)
Bill Fox – Bass (12)
Tom Hyatt – Bass (4)
Ian Fry – Drums (6)
Maureen Jerant – Drums (8)
Greg Jones – Drums (3)
Art Thompson – Drums (4)
Valerie Borman – Lead Vocals (12)
Matt Franceso – Lead Vocals (4)
Simon Godfrey – Lead Vocals (11)
Chris Michels – Violin (3)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Date of Release: 1st May 2024
LINKS
Karl Eisenhart – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube