Californian singer-songwriter, Eric Anders has a lot to offer musically. It is more than impressive when any artist releases a new album of such high quality, but for Anders, releasing one album clearly wasn’t enough. With his newest release Big World Abide: The Best of Eric Anders, Eric gives us a bit of a history lesson in his growing achievement list. Song after beautiful song, Big World Abide is a folk inspired album that shows a brought range of musical inspirations and instruments. Lyrically the album is demanding, as it asks some hard questions, as it ponders deep thoughts, and swims, at times, in melancholic waters. The production value of the album itself is top notch, courtesy of great musicianship, masterful production skills, and all the right people on board to create these gems of songs.

Releasing four critically acclaimed CDs in four years, Eric Anders has proven to his fans that he intends on offering them the music they want to hear, without having to wait forever to listen to that music. With glowing reviews, his debut album titled Not At One, came out in 2003, followed by the album Songs For Wayward Days, which was released in 2004. More Regrets reached the public in 2005, Tethered to the Ground in 2006, and finally we have the current best of album, Big World Abide. This is one very hard working musician, and if you have been following his journey so far, like a fine wine, it keeps getting better with age.

There are a lot of political messages weaved into the songs, personal musings from a vulnerable and raw place, and an honesty that permeates each and every track that Eric Anders crafts. In some ways the music, at times, can pull you down into a darker space, but just as likely, they will elevate you to a place even more hopeful.

With a fast growing, and much deserved, growing legion of fans, it is no surprise that this new best of album is being welcomed so graciously. For many listeners it can be a bit of an odd excitement when your favorite band puts out a compilation album, because you never know what that means for potential new music. With all things considered however, I don’t expect it to be long before we see a brand new album from this talented artist, so in the meantime, I will sink my teeth into this great body of work.

Eric Anders can be found on Facebook, Soundcloud, and his official website.