Whether it’s his distinctive guitar or alternating singing style, Idaho native Marcus Eaton impresses on latest release, As If You Had Wings. Reminiscent to fellow singer/songwriters John Mayer and Jason Mraz, what is most striking is how Eaton effortlessly switches from acoustic to electric guitar throughout the LP.
Before the credits on As If You Had Wings, Eaton writes, “This album was a great opportunity to rediscover what I could do with my guitar. Every background string sound, synth effect, color and ambient piece was created with guitar and effects pedals … Because of the distinctive nature of these sounds, I feel like this album represents me more than anything I have recorded to date.”
As a result, each track is refreshing and Eaton’s warm vocals accompanied with his intricate guitar playing and hopeful lyrics provide comfort. “Life In Reverse” kicks things off with light percussion and delicate guitar finger picking. A track about learning to live without regrets, as the song progresses Eaton seems to convince himself to live in the present. Just over five minutes long, with musical interludes and Eaton’s soaring vocals, the song gives the listener an adequate idea of what’s to come on As If You Had Wings.
“Dismantle the Machine” follows suit with little change vocally while “Eleven” switches gears with faster guitar strumming and a yearning in Eaton’s singing style. “Do you want to change the world? I do. I do./ As long as it’s with you,” he says.
Not your average singer-songwriter, tracks like the stand-out “Dreams of Flying” and Caribbean-esque “Weightless” demonstrate Eaton’s versatility. Midway through “Dreams of Flying,” an electric guitar feature accompanies his soulful vocals, which recall Mraz’s “Make It Mine.” This perhaps comes as no surprise as Eaton has shared the stage with Mraz as well as Mayer and Dave Matthews Band, no doubt taking influence from each artist.
“What’s the Difference” shows a new side of Eaton with deeper vocals and electric guitar that recalls Mayer. With faster paced guitar, leading up to an instrumental interlude mid-song, Eaton’s lyrics strike a chord. “You and me come from different places/Why can’t we just learn to embrace this?/Everyone deserves the freedom to pursue their dreams/What’s the difference if we all want the same things.”
What’s most enjoyable about As If You Had Wings is that the listener never fully knows what he will hear next. While Eaton’s ballads impress, it is on his more upbeat tracks that he truly stands out. “Over You” showcases a heavier rock sound for Eaton with aggressive vocals. The fast-paced track is an enjoyable transition and might have worked even better placed earlier on the LP.
On an album predominately structured around guitar accompaniment, it is fitting that closer “You Can’t Close Your Eyes” ends with a nearly two-minute guitar interlude. Another upbeat track, “Over You” and “You Can’t Close Your Eyes” end the album well. With such a solid release, one can only hope to hear much more from Marcus Eaton in the near future.
Review by Annie Reuter
