Little Of A Romeo EPRecords EPCD01

Succession of Rodney Crowell taken care of.

The furtile soil for americana in the Netherlands has been transormed into a true constellation of stars these last years. JW Roy, BJ Baartmans, Powderblue, Yearlings, Smalltown Romeos have become household names by now. In this constellation a new star has revealed itself, the guitarist from BJ's Pawnshop, Eric Devries. Together with Stephan van der Meijden (Pawnshop also), as both drummer and producer, Devries with these fifteen songs has made an excellent map of the music of the southern States of America.
His direct and accesible songs are host to influences from traditional music such as country, blues, (roots)rock and even New Orleans mardi gras. In that sense But For The Grace Of God with it's stringarrangement is the odd one out. Eric has a fine voice capable of singing the moving ballads as well as the more rocking pieces. Only the passionate outcries in These Wasted Days seem a bit off.
Still he stakes his claim to the honorary titel of the natural successor to Rodney Crowell. The more intimate ballads (Lost In Between) as well as the more up-tempo songs (Some Unlucky Star, Me And My Love) would not be misplaced on the recent Crowell-cd's. In one of the prizesongs Remains Of The Day supported by a very nice backingchoir Roy Orbison comes around. The songs are very tastefully performed with fine appearances by BJ Baartmans, Bartel Bartels and Arend Bouwmeester. The beatiful vocal attributions of Powderblue's Marjolein van der Klauw, especially in the final That Was All She Wrote cannot remain unmentioned.
The most beautiful song is the subdued Sweet Little Girl Blue that Eric plays on his mandolin only. Neerlandicana at its' best.

Bert van Kessel in Heaven Magazine, june 2004 (4 1/2 stars out of five)

ERIC DEVRIES Little of a Romeo


"Can you bend the truth just a little when reviewing a cd", I asked somebody with experience in this field. His answer was decisive:"Only when the future proves you were right!" To be quite honest, I had heard only three songs when I mentioned Devries' debut album to be more than reasonable when reviewing the album "Open House' by Eric Athey. Now I have received the whole album and thank God: I have spoken the truth!

"Devries is a very good songwriter (he wrote all songs himself), he has a nice voice and he has made, together with Pawnshop-drummer Stephan Van der Meijden, a very tasteful product. A divers album to which obviously BJ Baartmans made his contribution as well." Opening with 'Start Anew' Devries states his claim and follows through with some short and sharp songs like 'Sweet Little Girl Blue' en 'Got You Where I Want You'. The vocal contribution of 'Powderblue' singer Marjolein van der Klauw on 'But For The Grace Of God' and 'That Was All She Wrote', is worth mentioning. Devries' nice and relaxed singing of 'Remains Of The Day' makes you think of Nick Lowe meets Rodney Crowell with tasteful background vocals like Bobby King. In the end: a more than reasonable debut.

L.Kattestaart, review for www.alt.country.nl februari 2003

"Record companies attention please! A few weeks ago I received a demo by Eric Devries. I have been playing that album in my car almost contineously, eversince. I even make a detour to play the album through before I get home"

"He's been playing guitar in BJ's Pawnshop the last couple of years where he also sings all harmony vocals. For he's also a very good singer. And not only that, he knows the art of writing very catchy songs. Together with Stephan van der Meijden the bald-headed musician recorded 15 songs with a natural diversity and ease. One minute he sounds like a contemporary mixture of Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison in the ballad "Remains of the day", next thing you know you're reliving the days of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris in the beautiful duet "That was all she wrote". He's rocking through "Start anew"and "Driving down the blacktop". I can't get enough of this album, not even after playing it for the 20th time." To all A&R managers out there, this guy deserves to be signed. You all know the story of Sam Philips, I assume.

Jos van den Boom, review for www.folkforum.nl

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