Bryan Eich’s songs are like that favorite book you’ve read a dozen times—and still keep coming back to many times; there’s something familiar and reassuring, and yet you continually discover new ideas and nuances with each reading. With soulful vocals, radio-friendly melodies, and compact choruses, Eich’s songs unfailingly grab you at first listen. Yet, it’s the details of his compositions—subtle chord voicings, real dynamics, and striking arrangements—that make listeners come back to them again and again. Eich’s sound is a fusion of everything that is right with recent BritPop: imagine Travis and Oasis meet Coldplay and Phantom Planet. His new EP, Devil in Disguise—produced by Mike Watts (As Tall as Lions, Self Against City)—crackles with energy. The opener, “I’ve Been Alive,” starts off with a down-n-dirty backbeat—yet soon morphs into a driving pop tune featuring Beatles-esque harmonies. “Heaven’s Just a Feeling (Devil in Disguise),” is a maelstrom of blues-driven slide guitar and soaring vocals that drive the song forward. The energy of Eich’s songs is matched by the raw emotion of his lyrics. “Shaking up the Love,” starts with a simple, singsong melody; yet soon turns on a dime into something darker, driven by the poignant chorus, “You wanted it to be / All it could be / Now you’re taking back the things you said to me / And I’d die to reach you.” Closing out the EP are the delicate “Care for You,” and the minimalist “Building a Room.” The latter has a trippy, psychedelic vibe, and smart drum loops. Meanwhile the music belies the song’s narrator’s mood: he’s hopeful regarding a new love, yet jaded. Although he grew up in Long Island, Eich has always had an affinity for England’s music. “When I turned 13, I got that click you get when you hear The Beatles. It was like a religious experience; I needed to get a guitar. I needed to learn how to play. You get those blinders on. Now, I’m in for the long haul” he proclaims. That same restless energy comes across in all of Eich’s songs; there’s a certain energy that jumps from each of his tracks. “Sometimes you just know you have to do something. It’s in you and you can’t deny it. It’s who I am,” he continues. Eich’s presence on the scene is undeniable. Newsday picked him in their annual “Top 10 Album of the Year in the Tri-state Area” for his Sleeping by a Wire. His song “Big Fish” made #1 song on Idol Underground 2007—after just a week, and it stayed #1 for three months. Additionally, he has received airplay on Q104.3 with Jonathan Clarke, and 102.3 WBAB Homegrown. Eich is currently touring in support of his January 2010 release, Devil in Disguise. He is also seeking representation and a label. And just as we return to our favorite book for inspiration—we’ll be putting down whatever we’re doing to eagerly check out what Bryan Eich does next. One of the best EPs released in the last few years, Devil in Disguise bristles with polish, professionalism and radio-ready choruses. - absolutepunk.net