Never mind the pageantry and pomp of me listing all the great symphonic names of the 19th to mid-20th century. It's about pop and rock music, correct? But just to name a few...
50's: nothing
60's: Burt Bacharach, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Bee Gees, The Left Banke, and Scott Walker.
70's: Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Todd Rundgren, Robert Wyatt, Peter Gabriel, Dennis Wilson, Gordon Lightfoot, Elton John, Billy Joel, and Wings/Paul McCartney
80's: ABC, A-Ha, Captain Sensible, The Church, Cocteau Twins, The Cure, The Damned, Dead Can Dance, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Echo and the Bunnymen, Insect Fear, King, Men at Work, Gary Numan, Soft Cell, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Smiths, David Sylvian, Tears for Fears, This Mortal Coil, U2, Wham/G.Michael, XTC, and Kissing the Pink.
90's: The Grays, Jane's Addiction, Richard Davies, The Moles, Stone Temple Pilots, The Divine Comedy, James Angell,
Jeff Buckley, Brookville, Butterfly Child, Micah Green, The Clientele, Jason Falkner, Ben Folds, The Frogs, Nada Surf, Oasis, Radiohead, Sebadoh, Spookey Ruben, Supergrass, Tahiti 80, and Jason Wolfstein
00+: Keane.
Sounds Like
I would like to say like nobody but people continually mention people like: Nick Drake, Colin Blunstone, Elliott Smith, Love, David Sylvian, etc. I think I sound like the rainy half of the west coast.
The Imagination Stage (hands down the best record that Eric Matthews has ever made – even MOJO agreed with us!). Not only does the CD include a booklet with original artwork by Anthony Difatta, when you order direct from Empyrean you get a beautiful 18x24 poster of the amazing cover painting of Eric Matthews by Anthony Difatta. Here's the really special part: each poster is hand signed by Eric Matthews and hand numbered by the man himself. These are limited to the first 500 orders and once they are gone, they are gone. Each package will also receive a special bonus CD with two bonus tracks (songs not available anywhere else).
Speaking of exclusive offers… We wanted to take this time to encourage all fans who buy our releases to take advantage of ordering from our store. Not only do you get one-of-a-kind exclusives and bonus music, it also helps the artist by getting the direct sale of their work.
Print Media: It's heavy in here ... again?.
With "The Imagination Stage," Eric Matthews is finally, fully back. Not only does his new Empyrean Records album mark a return to the glorious form that put Eric on the map in the first place, but it charts a stirring departure from the pop norm. Conscious craft drawn from a subconscious spark. Music conjured from "a deeper, more mysterious place," as he puts it. Dream pop in the truest sense of the phrase.
What the press has to say about Mr Matthews and his music:
"For the past decade or so, it's been hip to use terms
like orchestral pop, and drop 'auteur' names like Brian
Wilson or Jimmy Webb. Eric Matthews was there first,
and does it best… Simply exquisite." - MOJO
"Eric Matthews is a pop rarity and he knows it…"
- The New York Times
"Eric Matthews has one thing the post-rock hordes never will: taste." –SPIN
Eric Matthews came to the art of making records in the old fashioned way of playing in a couple bands, making a few little 45's with people like Lou Barlow, Bob Fay, Richard Davies, etc. With Richard, Eric made something called "the Cardinal record". That was in 1994, and this "Cardinal record" put Eric on the map in the field of arranging, producing, and performing multiple instruments in the studio environment. The record did very well which led to Eric getting a record deal with Sub Pop/WEA records, and a publishing deal with Polygram/Universal Music Publishing.
Eric made two well-loved albums while at Sub Pop and then after a brief time away (not in prison) returned to the business of making solo records under the Empyrean Records
label. In 2005 Empyrean released "Six Kinds Of Passion Looking For An Exit", and in 2006 "Foundation Sounds". And out now (APRIL 29th, 2008) is Eric's latest masterpiece, "The Imagination Stage".
Collaborations: Richard Davies, Lou Barlow, Jason Falkner, and Bob Fay.
Session work with: Tahiti 80, Pugwash, Spookey Ruben, Brookville, Chocolat,
James Angell, Volovan, to name but a few...
Don't forget to check out Eric's exciting new side-project Seinking Ships, with co-sounder Christopher Seink and guest vocalist Miki Berenyi (LUSH). Below you will find them on Eric's top friend list.
Visit the official Eric Matthews website for more details regarding all things Eric:
Tesla never struck me as being especially vindictive - even a bit magnanimous, despite intensely disliking Edison (can't fault him for THAT)....he did, after all, selflessly forfeit his Westinghouse returns and never stopped trying to provide free energy resources.....also, if ANYONE could direct his own reincarnation, it's Tesla!
Are you completely serious you watch football? With such a sweet voice of honesty? My dear! I am shocked. Do you play football too? Oh my. My image of your docile nature has been tarnished. I guess you are a Stud Muffin. Geez
hey mister matthews.... like your stuff from the sub pop to now, you re the ,link between the brian wilson arrangement genius and the sunshine pop mood! long live to you!
Do not blaime the parental figures. a fish that walks and a dog that talks Jesus I cannot spell. I was listening to Dylan, actually still am. I paid some dues tangled up in blue. I have energy I will send some for your poor eye. I think your wife knows how to make Lemonade. love always inga written by an Italian poet from the 16th century written music in the cafes at night and revolution in the aire.
