Anders Osborne: Black Eye Galaxy

     Anders Osborne has lived a life as hard as his influences (including his hometown of New Orleans), and his trials come through vividly in his brilliant releases.  For his latest release, Black Eye Galaxy, Osborne incurs the same swampy hardships that have made him famous in some circles, legendary in others, and unknown in most.
    Osborne uses Black Eye Galaxy to continue his cathartic emotional rehabilitation from drugs.  Songs like "Mind of A Junkie," and the title track, explore the depths of his addiction over languid guitars that mimic the despondent high he felt.  Similarly, the angry riffs and lyrics of "Black Tar" show with absolute conviction to exorcise his demons.  The album is titled perfectly, as Black Eye Galaxy is continues his life story of being beat down and getting back up again.  Osborne's candid simplicity and beautiful wordsmanship make him one of the greatest songwriters in the game.
     Musically,  Black Eye Galaxy evokes unparalleled emotion.  Osborne compliments his words perfectly.  The music, like the lyrics, begin with driving passion, and end with lullaby nostalgia.  The music stands up to the greats which Osborne grew up listening to, as he evokes the sharp, driving, solos of Neil Young, the stoney meandering of The Grateful Dead, and the sweet folk of Dylan.  Osborne is no copycat, however, as all the songs have the soul of Anders Osborne, and nobody else.
     Black Eye Galaxy contains within its songs, the soul and emotion that is lacking from most of today's singer songwriters.  Where many others will contrive their hardships with benign tales love and breakups, Osborne sings of true pain, and that makes Black Eye Galaxy one of the best albums of 2012.

 

This acoustic performance does not show the driving force of the studio version, but does just as well conveying the palpable emotion that only Anders Osborne can summon.  Definitely worth a listen or two