Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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EITZEL, Mark

(b Southampton, England) Guitarist, singer, songwriter; regarded by some as the best songwriter to emerge in pop in the 1980s. He was a founder member of American Music Club in San Francisco '86 with guitarists Vudi and Tom Mallon, Dan Pearson on bass, apparently typically country-rock influenced, but Eitzel's songs having an existential edge: he became a Leonard Cohen for a new generation, though perhaps with more humour. The Restless Stranger '86 was an inauspicious debut; Engine '87 was better, then California and United Kingdom '88-9 (on Demon/Frontier in UK) were regarded as their masterpieces (the latter including 'Kathleen', one of Eitzel's best-loved songs), stark lyrics matched with minimal music.

But Everclear '91 on Alias USA, Mercury '93 and San Francisco '94 (both on Reprise in the USA) tended towards more production; then he disbanded. Some of these albums were not listed in various catalogues or they had different names; other albums listed are EP Hello Amsterdam on Reprise and Rise on Alias. Meanwhile Eitzel had released a live solo album Songs Of Love '91 (on Demon UK), a good showcase of his songs, and side-project Son '92 by the Toiling Midgets. Solo album 60 Watt Lining '96 on WB included Pearson and new age/jazz trumpeter Mark Isham (who also writes screen music; his score for A River Runs Through It was nominated for an Oscar). Caught In A Trap And I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby early '98 on Matador was a mostly acoustic follow-up with some rockist relief, and relentlessly downbeat lyrics. Eitzel is a modest man, wary of being typecast as a genius of the bedsit; the new album was greeted ecstatically by fans but didn't make any money; he was dropped by his UK label. West '97 was his second solo, co-written with Peter Buck (R.E.M.) for more and better hooks, recorded in Buck's new hometown of Seattle with members of Buck's side-project Tuatara, including Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) and Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees). 'West cost a twentieth of what my records usually cost,' he said; perhaps the return will be better.