Songwriters often don’t get much credit. They often make musicians into big stars, but when they step out from the shadows and into the spotlight themselves, the purity of their songwriting… the emotion that was written into the words… and more importantly, the intent shines brighter than they ever could when karaoke’d by someone else.
Eddie Schwartz, the songwriter behind such massive hits as “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (Pat Benatar), “The Doctor” (Doobie Brothers), “Don’t Shed a Tear” (Paul Carrack), “See Me Through” (Rascal Flatts) has released his newest EP Film School and every one of these six songs is a winner.
The single “We Win” is the epitome of this. Set upon a bed of echoing slide guitar by the inimitable Roger Moutenot (Lou Reed, Yo La Tengo, Sleater-Kinney), Schwartz’s vocals ring true, singing about uncovering optimism amongst the current downtrodden state of the world. It’s a song of little triumphs on a personal scale which, when multiplied by the masses, could add up to a swell of positivity.
The piano led “Special Girl” is a cinematic ballad, his vocal crackling with emotion, about love and loss. When he sings “When I found her, I’d been lookin’ everywhere / When I lost her, I was lost beyond despair,” not only do you feel the emotion, but the feeling of grief is also palpable and heartbreaking beyond repair.
Film School is an EP that deserves to be on any music lover’s shelf who values the strength of powerful songwriting. Deserving of similar praise as Jimmy Webb, Lucinda Williams, and, heck, I’ll throw in Carole King, Eddie Schwartz proves that he may be an ace of songwriting, but given the platform, he is an ace performer as well. Give this guy awards, every award!
