Music is a medium that comes to a particular person through inspiration. It is also a medium that inspires others to be creative and to perhaps make their own music. Sometimes a historical event can inspire a musician to create a whole album based on whatever intrigues that musician. Such is the case for Eric Holland on his latest album Borders, Battles & Beers. Unfortunately, the history of the SW United States and Mexico is the only thing inspirational about this album.
An Arizona native, Holland earned a master's of education in bilingual studies. That second language? You guessed it: Spanish! The oft-endearing gringo speaking Spanglish is cute enough for some, but over the duration of Borders, it all becomes very tiresome. Part of the problem is Holland's sup-bar Spanish accent; the rest of the problem is his lyrics.
If you're a musician from the Phoenix area and would like to submit a CD for review, please send it in an envelope marked "YAFI" to:
Martin Cizmar
You Asked For It
c/o Phoenix New Times
1201 E. Jefferson Street Phoenix, AZ 85032
I am waiting to be impressed, so bring it.