American Vanity

by Eric Hofbauer - Solo Guitar

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1.	The Fad 01:54	buy track
2.	Coke (for our addicts) 02:06	buy track
3.	Gnossienne #1 04:56	buy track
4.	Mandrake 03:55	buy track
5.	American Eulogy 02:17	buy track
6.	Better Get Hit in Your Soul 03:39	buy track
7.	BA-DEE Image 02:28	buy track
8.	Greensleeves in Vermont 03:37	buy track
9.	Ode to Little Drummer Joy 03:20	buy track
10.	$...(part 1) 00:37	buy track
11.	Old Man River (for our lost ones) 06:19	buy track
12.	New Coke (part 1) 00:36	buy track
13.	Driftin' On A Reed 02:11	buy track
14.	American Innocence 02:29	buy track
15.	$...(part 2) 00:40	buy track
16.	Dukes of Hazzard 03:22	buy track
17.	Take on Me 03:41	buy track
18.	Femme Fatale 03:37	buy track
19.	New Coke (part 2) 00:48	buy track
20.	Display Window Strut 03:30	buy track

about

From Original 2002 Liner Notes:

American Vanity explores the many faces of hubris in american culture, government and society. the concept of vanity is fascinating to me. at first, america’s bloated egotism and its’ presumptuous smug attitude, reoccurring themes in the history of our politics and culture, was plenty of material to get my blood boiling and the project started. the real challenge was to dig deeper, and get past the finger pointing and realize that vanity just may be a corner stone of the american way. in fact, our whole way of life, perhaps staring with those overly-confident and demanding colonists refusing to pay taxes , is built on vanity. however, excessive egotism suggests emptiness and hollowness, that some argue has irreparably damaged our culture. “the masses are asses” or so the saying goes, and is seems we get dragged from fad to fad because the media tells us what to do and who to listen to and what to wear etc… along the way, some innovative gems of “americana” become more than just passing fancies signifying nothing, but instead offer us a glimpse into a time that was or a time that is or even can be. my goal was to mine for these “gems” through improvisation, composition and re-interpretation. as americans we are simultaneously victims and purveyors of vanity and this recording mocks, scolds , and celebrates us for having the balls to do that to ourselves.

this recording is dedicated to the american “big brother” government, the “man” and his false idol, and the mysterious cultural commence machine in charge of what is cool (via those gap ads and such)

Media Quotes:

He can play lightning fast phrases or slow blues, sentimental melodies or dissonant
flurries, and he’s certainly a brilliant player. Fans of guitar forays will be especially
amazed by what he does on several pieces…consistent musical brilliance.
—Ron Wynn, Nashville City Paper

…this is a muscular and audacious display of technical virtuosity…he’s got my attention.
—Dan McClenaghan, AllAboutJazz.com

His approach is stately as classical music but loaded with the nose-thumbing attitude of
American music (found also in Thelonious Monk, Charles Ives and Lightnin’ Hopkins).
—Mark Keresman, JazzReview.com

Using hefty fingerstyle chops on acoustic guitar, he weaves bebop phrases, discrete bass
lines, prepared guitar, dissonance, and fragmented improvisation into a cool and unique
personal statement…Hofbauer sustains the personality of each arrangement while re-
examining its elements. [His] original pieces are equally interesting, angular and
thorny…
—Gary Lee Joyner, Acoustic Guitar

credits

released July 2, 2018

all arrangements by eric hofbauer, tracks 1,2,5,7,10,12,14,15,19,&20 by hofbauer (spice-E music, BMI), c+p 2002 Creative Nation Music Productions

recorded by eric hofbauer at CNM studios (aka his living room), Somerville, MA, summer 2002
mastered by warren amerman and eric hofbauer at rotary records, Springfield MA, oct. 2002
graphic design by rich cole
produced by eric hofbauer

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about

Eric Hofbauer - Solo Guitar Boston, Massachusetts

“His aesthetic evokes old blues, Americana, Tin Pan Alley, bebop, and further frontiers. There’s a rule-breaking spirit but also an impeccable rigor, a foundation of sheer chops and knowledge, that put Hofbauer in the top tier of guitarists.” - David R. Adler ... more

erichofbauer.com

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