I hear the term, “stripped down” quite a bit to describe a musical sound. Usually it is meant to describe a sound that is seemingly less produced and it mostly means the artist and his guitar. While this term is often misrepresented in the works it describes, if it is to apply to any album Ive heard recently its Eric Bachmanns “To The Races”.

Bachmann sheds his Crooked Fingers guise provide this collection of songs which was released last month on Saddle Creek Records. Its been said that Eric wrote the lionshare of this record while on tour and living voluntarily in the back of his van. And to be honest, I cant picture the creative process for To The Races to be any different.

On most of the tunes Bachmann takes away the thoughts and distractions of life and plays his guitar. He sings songs that you and I can relate to, because we have been there before. The rather lonesome, reflective songs place Bachmann is an elite songwriter class and deservedly so. Here are two great tunes from “To The Races.”

Eric Bachmann- Lonesome Warrior
Eric Bachmann – Carrboro Woman

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