Dave Alvin, American Analog Set, Joseph Arthur, Arcade Fire, Bagheera, Band, Beach Boys, Beatles, Belle & Sebastion, Norman Blake, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Boomtown Rats, Billy Bragg, Bright Eyes, Greg Brown, Jeff Buckley, Richard Buckner, Buffalo Springfield, Bunkbed Nights, Bunnygrunt, T-Bone Burnett, Brandy Carlile, Cars, Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Cat Power, Kasey Chambers, Guy Clark, Bruce Cockburn, Elvis Costello, Crooked Fingers, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Danielson Family, Death Cab for Cutie, Derek & the Dominos, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Kathleen Edwards, Eminem, Finn Brothers, Finn's Motel, Fleming & John, Flaming Lips, Franz Ferdinand, Rory Gallagher, JD Gilmore, Gregory & the Hawk, Guided by Voices, Jay-Z, Hal, Jon Hardy, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Buddy Holly, Ida, Iron & Wine, Jayhawks, Chance Jones, Tonio K, Kinks, Michael Knott, Alison Krauss, Sonny Landreth, John Legend, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Long Winters, Loretta Lynn, Magnolia Electric Co., Aimee Mann, Mates of State, Buddy & Julie Miller, Mirah, Gurf Morlix, New Pornographers, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Old 97s, Over the Rhine, Palace Brothers, Pedro the Lion, Pernice Brothers, Kelly Joe Phelps, Radiohead, Ralston, Red House Painters, Bob Reuter, Damien Rice, Rilo Kiley, Saturday Looks Good to Me, Seventy-Sevens, Ron Sexsmith, Martin Sexton, Shearwater, Shins, Simon & Garfunkel, Sigur Ros, Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, Elliott Smith, Son Volt, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Sun Kil Moon, Sunny Day Real Estate, Rosie Thomas, Linda Thompson, Richard Thompson, Turtles, Two Gallants, U2, Vigilantes of Love, Tom Waits, Loudon Wainwright III, Weezer, Wilco, David Wilcox, Dar Williams, Hank Williams, Lucinda Williams, Denison Witmer, Neil Young, Jenny Owen Youngs, Youth Group, Warren Zevon
The Riverfront Times
By Christian Schaeffer
Published: February 20, 2008
"Singer-songwriter Joe Eisenbraun re-mains a mostly unknown figure around town who plays a show only every month or two — even though the solid, varied LP Selected Short Works marks his fifteenth release since 2001. The dude clearly has Bob Pollard-esque depths to plumb, but his talent justifies this prodigious output. Eisenbraun writes sharp, catchy songs that display wit and heart in equal measure, as they vacillate between nervy power-pop and pensive folk-rock. "To See You Again" pulses with new-wave energy and sounds like a lost Knack song, and "History" crunches along with a few nods to Cheap Trick. "Soft Rock Radio" is a highlight among the stripped-down numbers, marked by a circular banjo pattern and light drums, as Eisenbraun ruminates on the long-gone simplicity of grade-school love.
Like Billy Bragg's similarly minded Talking with the Taxman About Poetry, marriage is a focus of many of these tunes. Opener "Diamonds, Diapers & Property" considers the weight of family life and fiscal responsibility amid twangy guitar and wheezy organ chords. Things get darker (and funnier) with "The Day I Married Her," which finds a beleaguered husband looking back on 30 years of domestic blisters. The chorus, which states "If I killed her the day I married her, I'd be out of jail by now," is sure to be a favorite with fans of murder ballads and wry irony alike. A little too snarky for alt-country and a little too wistful for indie-rock, Eisenbraun finds a comfortable middle ground in between genres." ..— By Christian Schaeffer
Eisenbraun & the Geiger Counter's Friend Space (Top 8)
Hey, Joe, I just realized that I forgot to add a comment about your stuff a while back when I listened to it. I'm really liking all of it, especially "Coy Looks" and "Carrying Sorrow". Keep up the great work, you prolific dude, you!
Can't believe you recorded those in your own home. Excellent production quality. I will say, "Only the Best For My Baby" is a masterpiece, and all the songs hold up so well solo. Let us know when your next show is.
Thanks a lot Joe. I sincerely have been meaning to rip your CDs and get them onto my Ipod for some listening action, but it was nonstop rehearsal this past month, and then last week we recorded our new record. So...I'm finally going to have a chance to do so this week. I'll hit you up soon. Again, thanks so much for the kind words.
When do you want to track those songs? Is it just "If We Married" and "Coy Looks and White Lies?" Thanks again for coming out on Thursday, it was good to see you.
Yeah, some kick off your shoes and relax jams!! Really enjoyed your tunes. Thanks for acceptin' my request, hope you were into my stuff. Well, take it easy, and all the best to ya.
Hey thanks for getting my banjo back to me. My first resolution (after trying to quit smoking) is to learn how to play the damn thing. Hope all is well.
