Now Playing: Billy Eli’s ‘Lace’
Billy Eli is prepping for the release of a new album. It’s titled "Lace" and has a drop date of August 9th, 2024. But first, for those of you not yet familiar with the artist in question, a bit o’ background.
Billy Eli
According to his official website and other online sources, Billy Eli is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is a Texas-born, New England-based artist. His rockin’ resume includes “years playing honky tonk dives all over the country”, five previous platters, and “a near cult following both in the US and Europe.” During “the pandemic years…he was sidelined from traveling” and earned “a bachelor’s degree in psychology.”
Signature Sound
Billy Eli’s signature sound is a melange of multiple music genres including Americana, country, rock, and more. He is partly inspired by “decades of observing human behavior on the road.”
"Lace"
"Lace" is a nine-track album of all original material at least co-written by Eli. It’s also his sixth album and his first release in 11 years. Eli leads the way on acoustic guitar and vocals. He is backed by other artists including Dale Daniel on drums; Taras Prodaniuk on bass; Jim Hemphill on electric guitar; Kevin Maul and Jaydee Maness on pedal steel; producer Ed Tree on electric sitar, harmonium, acoustic piano, Wurlitzer piano, Vox organ, baritone, electric, slide, bass, nylon string and acoustic guitars; and Teresa James on harmony vocals.
The vinyl version includes a bonus track titled “Anejo Nights” co-written by Eli, Hemphill, Daniel, Robinson, and Maul. It features Tree on Hammond organ and electric and baritone guitars. Eli told the press that while he thought he was finished with songwriting, the pandemic changed that. “I thought I was done writing, and then the lockdown hit and songs started pouring out of me.”
Track by Track
The lead-in is the single “Trying Not To Drown.” This one sets the tone for the disc right from the start. The emotive lyrical focus here is on struggle and survival. His Texas roots are immediately obvious in his understated country rock croon.
“You’re The Wine”, the album’s second single, was co-composed with Greg Hall. This tunefully tells us all to remember that it is not what we drink when we socialize but with whom we drink that matters. Eli discussed the unusual origin of this song on social media recently.
He said: “This song split off from ‘Wine in the Desert,’ which started as the same song. It’s about space and time during the lockdown. The inspiration was the period of uncertainty during the teeth of the lockdown, we weren’t sure when we were going to be able to go to a restaurant, and there was so much uncertainty and fear about when, if ever, we were going to be able to know what’s gonna go on.”
He concluded: “Mostly we now tend to remember the inconvenience, but at the time the worst part was the anxiety of not knowing. And everybody got a little bit sad.
When we get past this and we can all get together again, we’ll get together and have a glass of wine, but for me, just getting to see everyone again is the wine, that would be enough. I don’t need a drink or a reason, I just need to see you again.”
Not to be confused with the 2016 song by the Austrian electronic music duo Klangkarussell, this “Hey Maria” is, like every track here, an original composition. The signature sound solidifies with this song about a long-lost relationship.
The musical direction changes a bit as things slow down with “Here’s To You” co-written with guitarist Hemphill. This is a sad, sincere song that tunefully touches upon acceptance and the struggle for redemption.
The next number is “Drinking To The Angels.” Yes, one would certainly expect some kind of drinking song on an album such as this. Nevertheless, while the subject might be practically a prerequisite, what makes this one musically meaningful is Eli’s clever take on the topic.
Also included here is the upbeat “All Day.” No, it’s not a country-rock cover of Kanye West’s 2015 cut. It’s an original collaboration between Eli, Tree, and musical guest David Serby who provides lead and harmony vocals. Complete with a late 1960s element, this is a soundtrack-ready, nigh-two-steppin’ track that is musically distinctive.
Pharrell Williams had nothing to do with Eli’s “Marilyn Monroe.” This musically melancholic cut, complete with effective pop culture reference, is a standout song and has its own little identity.
“Getting Out of Denver” follows here. This musically meandering tune of torrid travel would work well on college radio. Whether it’s a musical metaphor or just a rhythmic recollection of a lengthy layover, all the elements are included in Eli’s entertaining offering.
The strong closing cut, on the CD anyway, is “Wine In The Desert.” As previously posted, this song works well here, in part, because “You’re The Wine” was born of it. Additionally, it includes all of Eli’s unifying elements and offers one final example of his abilities as a solo songwriter.
Overall…
Overall, this new release is a fine follow-up to his previous platter and an unexpected, welcome surprise for his fan base. While the material generally focuses on such familiar themes as change, life, love, loss, friendship, perseverance, and moving forward, the pandemic perhaps provided an atmosphere that allowed Eli to elaborate on these concepts. His work remains emotive, hopeful, personal, and pensive.
This also makes the material more relevant to new audiences as well. If you’re a hardcore fan or never heard of Eli before now, the music is memorable, the songs are strongly significant, and the comparative brevity will leave one and all wanting more. So check out Billy Eli’s “Lace” and you just might find yourself listening to it “All Day.”
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