Performing Songwriter Magazine Top 12 independent releases-
December 1999
Eamon O'Tuama hails from Ireland, a fact which becomes evident as soon
as you hear the rich brogue in his voice. In a similar vein as Paul Brady and
Luka Bloom, O'Tuama writes literate and direct pop-rock tunes, leaving a bit
of his Celtic roots intact. Down With A Smile kicks off with "Are You Going To
Love Me," a catchy rocker with great lines like, "I never looked into your eyes
without my fingers crossed, you know." Great lines abound here. "I keep my
faith like an empty box in my pocket," he confides in "Beautiful Plans." If his
voice lacks some range he more than makes up for it with his poet's eye for
detail. Check out the opening lines of "Rusty Cars:" "Tonight all rusty cars
make too much noise on the uphill swing/All around my roadway, through
every open lane/Twist like a corkscrew on a Monday footpath/That waits for
no man to change his mind." The title track is a bit reminiscent of Bob
Seger's "Night Moves," a little less bluster but with the same yearning. Like
any good Irishman, Eamon O'Tuama is a bit moody and melancholy but he
sure knows how to tell a good story.
Neil Hagan-Performing Songwriter Magazine-Volume 7 #42, December
1999
Dirty Linen Magazine
From New York by way of Ireland, Eamon O'Tuama has released a debut
CD of engaging rock songs with a distinctively Irish flavor. From the first
track, sounding a bit like Paul Brady or Luka Bloom, O'Tuama captures the
listener's attention with enigmatic, introspective lyrics. O'Tuama's lyrics are
not always crystal clear, but they are very powerful and evocative. The songs
are about love and growing up, but they do have a lot of loneliness and
emptiness and a restless sense of waiting for something that is not
coming, of dreams fading. The music is centered around a fairly sparse
guitar/bass/drums rock arrangement, with extras like low whistle, uileann
pipes, and fiddle (compliments of Seamus Egan and Win Horan) woven in
to give it a folky edge. The melodies and the singing are first rate. O'Tuama
is one to watch for.
Dirty Linen #84-October/November 1999
Irish Music Magazine
" Down With A Smile" presents a bunch of strong and frank insights into the
soul, in a musical style, which sweeps from gritty folk and rock to the rhythm
of traditional Irish music. And it all hangs together like it grew there".
Roderick O'Connor, Irish Music Magazine.
Hot Press Magazine
"O'Tuama's dipped his spoon deep into the melting pot and come up licking
his chops...the sepia prints of old photo albums meld with the garish
shades of the village and with his acoustic six string perched alongside
Egan's pipes his touch is as deft with melody as it is with lyric.... bravely
naked". Siobhan Long, Hot Press magazine. ".... evokes similar urban
streetscapes to Springsteen's epic "Darkness on the Edge of Town..".
Colm O'Hare, Hot Press magazine.
Brigits Feast Magazine
Celtic urban music? That's the only way I know to describe O'Tuama's
Down With A Smile. This is earthy, gritty music brewed in an urban
cauldron. Here is O'Tuama's newly adopted Greenwich Village and
Manhattan, and the urban centers of his native Ireland, strong, rank and
frankly obvious even to the casual observer. Listen to the words, feel the
plaintive music, and you'll experience insights into the soul.. You're standing
between some wet sidewalk and empty car and talking or something I don't
remember where to start. I don't know if I need a jacket. I'm always warm
where I go. This night it always dragging, night is always slow. Along with
O'Tuama and his penetrating six string are Seamus Egan's adroit piping,
Win Horan playing fiddle and Susan McKeown's vocals. Feeling all the
emotions of the song. The perfect compliment to O'Tuama's own plaintive
voice.
Brigits Feast- June 1999 Issue
Behind Every Life Reviews
"New York-via-Ireland songwriter Eamon O Tuama has crafted an
electrifying record in Behind Every Life. Lush, driving and lyrical, its equal
parts heady Irish rock such as U2 and Luka Bloom and dark, intellectual
poetry in the vein of Lloyd Cole and The Blue Nile. Though those influences
are certainly swimming around in here, O Tuama is his own man, and his
slippery, long phrases and smoky delivery are completely winning. Ambient
and practically gushing with reverb and jangling acoustic guitars, it calls to
mind 1980s pop in the very best ways: The Smiths, The Church, especially
Lloyd Cole. Its unashamedly emotional but never sappy just damn good."
Top 12 independent releases, March 2003-Performing Songwriter Magazine
" Expect no mercy. Eamon's O'Tuama's second outing, "Behind Every Life",
will challenge and surprise you. It starts mid-song, with O'Tuama spitting
out lyrics--including the album's title--from the lips of a character who knows
"it's all been done before and nothing really matters today when it's gone
away." The vocals float in a tide of electric sound and insistent drums.
Keyboards climb the scale one note at a time. Tension rises, relieved for a
moment by a chorus in which the tension builds all over again. O'Tuama--
an Irishman in New York--confounds expectations throughout: vocals that
sting with a whisper; an effects laden mix with an acoustic bottom; sexual
ambiguity; a little Celtic influence and a solid rock sound that consistently
hits heavy on the two and the four. And moments of beauty among the ruins:
a searing solo in "Bloom Again" one highlight of effective violin playing
throughout; tuneful refrains elevated by chorused female harmony voices;
jangly Byrds-like guitar. The lyrics, a series of allegations, take no
prisoners: "I never listen to what you say; touched by your little cares that
were so empty then; your hands are cold and clammy... cause we touched
one day at a funeral." The most memorable songs, like "Rescue Me" and
"Portrait," expose a bit of vulnerability and work the hook with Beatlesque
harmonies and that jangling guitar. In the closing tune, O'Tuama
approaches resolution, chiding himself --"Poor Baby"-- for "writing sad
songs through the years", like the ones in this unrelenting litany of "big
stories" about "hard lessons" learned by those with "lost dreams". It's not
easy to live in the world O'Tuama depicts. But, how easy is it to live in yours
? "
David Kleiner-Minor7th.com-June/July 2002
" On his second album, Irish born, New York based Eamon O'Tuama
wrestles with life's pain and passion right from the first track, "More
Fortunate," and the lyric, "Behind every life there's fire." With his Celtic tinged
sound and a voice reminiscent of Luka Bloom, 0'Tuama is everything a
classic singer/songwriter should be literate, earnest and tuneful. His songs
paint vigorous and well wrought portraits of lovers, dreamers and the
dispossessed, and his melodies are nothing short of plangent. On "One
Great Love," his empathy with and compassion for his characters is
overwhelmingly poignant: "Slip off your jaded little smile / Undo your charm /
Why don't you lie down on the floor / Wash it all away." Like Waterboy Mike
Scott, the accent is on big emotions writ large, and when in the song
"Rescue Me" O'Tuama pleads for just that in the refrain, you can just tell he
means every word of it. In a mood for high drama? Discover Behind Every
Life for yourself."
Eliot Wilder -Amplifier Magazine- May/June 2002
"....gifted singer-songwriter..gorgeous melodies...addictive Beatlesque pop
riffs. Does anyone write lyrics like this anymore ? I think not....a great
collection of songs." -
Mike Farragher-Irish Voice -March 2002
" Irish born New Yorker Eamon O’Tuama has been called the Irish Bruce
Springsteen. High praise, but well deserved. Behind Every Life combines
traditional Irish music with modern rock, pop, and folk. O’Tuama’s voice
sounds more like Billy Corgan than Bruce Springsteen, but he does share
the Boss’s musical passion and gift for writing powerful songs that paint a
vivid picture that draws in the listener. Behind Every Life is a compelling and
eclectic collection of glorious Celtic-flavored music."
Chad Bowar-Suite101.com-Feb. 2002's best CD's
" What an amazing combination of talent joins on “Behind Every Life”.
Thoughtful songs and great music drive this CD to the top of any true indie
music lover’s list. If you ever wonder what type of song’s Dave Matthews
sung before hitting the limelight, it must have sounded a hint like this. With
lyrics that weave delicate stories, Eamon O’Tuama is more than a man with
a acoustic guitar, but proves himself a musical poet."
Yolanda Best-SexyAmerica.net
"..a melodic musical journey that is consistently pleasing ...moments of true
greatness.."
Rachel Jagt-Rambles Magazine , September 2002
" Indie-Americana music has found its match in Eamon O'Tuama's Celtic
indie rock..lush arrangements..punchy guitar reverb..O'Tuama is willing to
try his hand at something a bit different."
Mandy Shekleton-Splendid E-Zine
"See, now, this is what I'm talking about. Eamon O'Tuama dropped into
New York City from County Cork in 1989, and Behind Every Life is saturated
with urban energy mixed in with O'Tuama's Celtic roots. The album drop
kicks the listener right into the middle of the swirl with "More Fortunate,"
which sounds like it starts mid-verse and pushes on with a dramatic drive
that's right on the verge of blowing up most of the time; it's like a lost track
from "This is the Sea," and that's a good thing. Eamon O'Tuama keeps this
up for a good chunk of the album. Subtley is not the magic word on this
album -- it's high drama all the way and likely to leave you a little tired out by
the end of it (I was tired out before the end of it; it look me three separate
listens to get all the way through). But you can't complain when a songwriter
basically launches himself off a high building and gives his all, all the way
down, especially when he's a halfway-decent songwriter, which O'Tuama is.
If you like your Celtic rock to go to 11, this is what you're looking for".
John Scalzi-Indiecrit.com