This Is Me

Eddie From Ohio | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virginia Soul
• ASIN: B0003JAL8O
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,787 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Adult album rock with a capital AAA, this District of Columbia quartet sports eight previous albums, a swarm of "Edheads" and a name derived from a member of a nineties California punk band (Ed "eDfROMOHIO" Crawford of fIREHOSE). And after 13 years as a regional darling, it now it has a record for the masses thanks to producer Lloyd Maines (Dixie Chicks, Robert Earl Keen), who belies the band’s habitual preparedness for a spontaneous, electrified and nearly live cadence on this hour-long effort. Julie Murphy Wells may be the recognizable voice of Eddie’s merging of bluegrass, folk, and acoustic pop, but guitarist Michael Clem stars at the mic on "No Pain, No Gain," led by Maines’ mandolin and dobro precision, and as a cosmopolitan Leon Redbone on the bluesy "Fifty Pounds." With intellect, wit and an affinity for reflection on real life endeavors, This is Me serves as both another feather in the CD cap for long-time followers and as a debut record for those to come. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This is all Lloyd Maines' fault, May 29, 2005

By 

fturner "fturner1997" (Monterrey, Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is Me (Audio CD)

I've been thinking about this review since I bought the CD three months ago, debating internally exactly what's wrong with the newest album from my favorite group. I have been in love with EFO's wit, music, Julie's voice, and the harmonies for the past 6 years, ever since "Looking Out the Fishbowl", and have purchased each album immediately after its release.

This album is a car wreck, thanks to the interference of Lloyd Maines, the "big name" country producer. Somehow he managed to take a band that normally blazes with energy sound bored. Most of the songs make it sound like they're just not having fun with this album, and by extension, neither did I. It's obvious he didn't listen to what made earlier albums special, as there is a dearth of EFO's trademark harmonies. On top of that, Maines "contributed" instrumentation (mostly extraneous steel guitar) on almost all the tracks, all focused on countrifying this album.

EFO's soul briefly comes to life on track 6, "Fly" (coincidentally one of the few tracks where Lloyd is nowhere to be found), which showcases Robbie's wit with lyrics in a poignant, upbeat song, similar to "One Thousand Sarahs" on their last album.

Overall, I'm really disappointed, and pray that EFO will think twice before going all country with a bigshot producer while sacrificing their uniqueness for marketability. I still give them 3 stars because this is EFO, after all, and their worst effort is better than most of what's on the market today.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another fine EFO, November 1, 2004

By 

E. C Goodstein (Northern CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Is Me (Audio CD)

Another great albumn from EFO-- it is a bit more country than some, but
really IMO with Lloyd Maines producing, a little bit more 'smoothed out pop.' I think the first couple songs are the weakest (though they're growing on me some); but overall still very clever, very fine singing by
Julie Murphy-Wells (boy, is she ever underrated IMO!) and the guys. I think Robbie Schaefer's songs better here than some recent albums.
I can't quite give it 5 stars-- wish they had 4.5 :). Fine effort though.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this CD, October 22, 2004

By 

Elise Blas (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is Me (Audio CD)

As a true EFO fan, I got this CD the day it came out and could not be more pleased with it. It's an amazing mix of EFO humor and fantastic music! I love all the songs but my favorites would have to be Independence Indiana, Adios Lorena, and The Bird. From the moment you hear this CD, you will love it!