West (Mark Eitzel album)

West
Studio album by Mark Eitzel
Released	May 6, 1997 (1997-05-06)
Recorded	December 10–16, 1996
Studio	Ironwood, Seattle, United States[1]
Genre	Rock, singer–songwriter
Length	53:33
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Peter Buck
Mark Eitzel chronology
Words and Music (1997) West (1997) Caught in a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby (1998)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Pitchfork Media	9.6/10[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]
Uncut	[5]

West is the fourth solo album by the American Music Club singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel, released by Warner Bros. Records in 1997. It includes songs co-written and produced by the R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck from October 15 to October 17, 1996.[1][6]

Critical reception

The Chicago Tribune wrote that "with Buck producing and co-writing West, Eitzel has never been part of such an overtly inviting pop album."[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Buck and Eitzel, except where noted:

1. "If You Have to Ask" – 4:20
2. "Free of Harm" – 3:21
3. "Helium" – 5:25
4. "Stunned & Frozen" – 5:10
5. "Then It Really Happens" – 4:28
6. "In Your Life" – 4:04
7. "Lower Eastside Tourist" – 3:49
8. "Three Inches of Wall" – 4:48
9. "Move Myself Ahead" – 3:35
10. "Old Photographs" – 5:22
11. "Fresh Screwdriver" – 3:59
12. "Live or Die" (Eitzel) – 5:14

Personnel

• Mark Eitzel – vocals, guitar on "Live or Die", string arrangements on "If You Have to Ask"
• Steve Berlin – fuzz bass on "Old Photographs", piano on "Helium"
• Peter Buck – guitar, bass guitar on "Live or Die"
• Bruce Kaphan – string arrangements on "If You Have to Ask"
• Barrett Martin – drums, acoustic bass guitar, bass marimba, vibes, tablas, conga, tambourine
• Scott McCaughey – electric bass, organ, piano, slide guitar
• Mike McCready – guitar on "Fresh Screwdriver"
• Skerik – vibraphone, organ, baritone saxophone

See also

• The Lonesome Death of Buck McCoy, a studio album by The Minus 5 featuring many of the same musicians and recorded at the same time as West

References

1. Phalen, Tom (May 16, 1997). "Album collaborations of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
2. Ankeny, Jason. "Mark Eitzel: West". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
3. Schreiber, Ryan. "Mark Eitzel: West". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
4. Kot, Greg. "Mark Eitzel: West". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
5. Dee, Johnny (June 1997). "Mark Eitzel: West". Uncut. No. 1. p. 95.
6. Kaufman, Gil (February 1, 1997). "Mark Eitzel, Peter Buck & Tuatara Crew to Hit the Road". MTV. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
7. Kot, Greg (8 May 1997). "EVERYONE, IT SEEMS, IS IMPRESSED WITH SONGWRITER MARK EITZEL--EXCEPT MARK EITZEL". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

External links

• "Power Trio", in the Phoenix New Times (July 12, 1997)