Eric Hisaw
Thing About Trains
Austinite and New Mexico émigré Eric Hisaw’s debut release is a fairly stripped-down affair, showcasing the songwriter’s soulful voice and Telecaster work. Never flashy or self-indulgent, Hisaw blends rhythm and lead parts seamlessly, often negating the need for another guitarist. That said, he resists the urge to overwrite or overplay his songs, though at times the bare-bones style of these songs works against them; the chorus of “Don’t Get Any Better” could easily benefit from some background vocals. Equally, there are times when Hisaw’s live sets would sound fuller with a second guitar player. On Thing About Trains, the songs that work best are the ones that rock, like “Hell on 71” or “Legend or Loser,” the later of which ventures into Steve Earle territory and begs for Hisaw to let it kick harder. That’s splitting hairs somewhat, however; in all, this is a pretty strong debut from a talented guitarist cum singer-songwriter who deserves a wider audience. It’s certainly a welcome switch from much of the interchangeable singer-songwriter pabulum that infects the airwaves of Americana stations these days. 
This article appears in May 5 • 2000.