Putnam releases album at Night Court

by Chas J. Hartman
Assistant Entertainment Editor

Eric Putnam is a veteran of the Athens music scene, and with his years of experience comes an extraordinary flair for being honest with his listeners.

As a singer/songwriter, Putnam is unique amidst a scene of bands and duos. His just-released second album is not what one might expect from a solo artist. "Death To The Boy Next Door" is a profound, often blunt, statement about life - with plenty of guitars, programmed drum beats and keyboards.

Putnam, an Ohio University senior, spent two years writing and recording his finely crafted new album, and the final product is a cohesive collection of 10 genre-bending songs. From the simple acoustic guitar on "Singer (Coshocton Blues)" to the backward electric guitar solo on "Kicked Out of Heaven (Sex And A Chilli)", "Death to the Boy Next Door" offers something for everyone.

Putnam spent 800 hours in the studio making this album and almost half of that went into mixing the 10 songs. And every song has two titles to make fun of the concept of song titles.

"I learned how to make mixes," Putnam said. "I had never mixed anything before, and that's very hard. I had no experience, no training and to sit at a board and try and find the right levels to where the guitar and bass should be is difficult.

"After you mix a song 30 or 40 times, it's like you can't hear it anymore," Putnam said. "The same holds true for lyrics. I recorded the first song ('Singer') seven different ways and all of them with different words. I don't know if one version was any better than the others...In the end, they're all about the same."

"Death To The Boy Next Door" has music reminiscent of early Bob Dylan and other music bordering along a softer version of Trent Reznor. The lyrics are refreshingly simple and true, which might leave one thinking Putnam is the male version of Liz Phair or Ani DiFranco. In "Kicked Out of Heaven," Putnam's lyrics cover all the bases when it comes to things that some guys wish they could say to girls.

"I want to come all over you" and "I want to get you from behind" are two lines from "Kicked Out of Heaven." Putnam is not afraid to say what is on his mind, even when it comes to his unabashed lust for a woman.

"I wanted to make a record that was challenging," Putnam said. "I want to be liked on my own terms and this is music on my own terms. I hope you get it."

Don't be surprised to find that Putnam's live show is drastically different from the album. When live, Putnam is able to perform only four songs from the album, because of the absence of a backing band and his desire to just play the acoustic guitar. In fact, he performs without a set list and always welcomes requests.

In the end, whether it is his new album or a live performance, Putnam puts in 110 percent.

"Creativity is a drug," he concluded.

Putnam performs at 10 p.m. tonight at Night Court. There is no cover charge. 21 and up only.