Some might say it was a risky move to announce a triple album, then stagger its release. Eric Church is never afraid of taking risks though, as he released part one of his triple album ‘Heart & Soul’ on Friday. One thing that can be said of the ‘Heart’ portion, is that it certainly lived up to its name. The passion he soaked into these songs jump out at you and you can’t help but feel something.
There’s a reason why Eric Church has been nominated for Album of the Year for his previous work multiple times. The man knows how to pick songs that speak to the listener. There is not a bad song in the first two-thirds of this collection. Special attention should be paid to ‘People Break’ though, a heart-wrenching ballad about the end of a relationship. Both parties know it’s over and they are only hurting each other more by trying to make something work that doesn’t. A lot more can be said with simple production and strong lyrics; something that this song and others on this album do so well. ‘Heart of the Night’ also has a very stripped-down feel to it, so that Church’s voice and the words he’s singing are at the forefront. The message of being ready to leave at a moment’s notice to search for what you want and need in life feels very anthemic. The song begs the listener to not settle for something if it’s not what makes them happy.
The first six songs on ‘Heart’ are so strong, that the final three pale in comparison. The beginning of the album has such a clear message in every song, but the end just left me confused. ‘Bunch of Nothing’ is exactly that, a song about a person who has no useful skills. There’s no benefit to telling a story about a man that can’t help a person who’s asking for it. ‘Crazyland’ left me confused at how it was supposed to be interpreted. If I understood it correctly, was it saying that a person who lost their sobriety had the support of people in a bar after they lost contact with family and friends? That’s a dangerous message to send if that is what’s being portrayed here.
If Church had trimmed ‘Heart’ to six songs and labeled it as an EP, I would say it’s hands-down an awards contender. Beyond the missteps at the end, this album is definitely worth your time. To listen to ‘Heart’, click here.
