Review in the Evanston RoundTable Newspaper, March 21, 2007

“Start Over”--Jay Einhorn

A CD Review By Brian Murphy

Jay Einhorn describes his album, “Start Over,” as a “folk-pop-rock-country-blues-classical-afro-fusion,” but I think his music can be best described as that of a man free to explore his thoughts through words and his acoustic guitar.

Einhorn’s introspective, minimalist approach, one of gentle guitar noodling and Burl Ives-reminiscent intonation, creates a mellow atmosphere, where crises of the past have given way to a wistful yet hardened view.

Einhorn finds inspiration in the poems of Emily Dickinson in “Market Price,” while life experience serves as a muse for “Enough to Drink” and “Start Over.” The unabashed honesty and straightforward storytelling of each track of “Start Over” elevate this artist to modern-day folk-hero status. His grasp of several musical genres makes him as accessible at a coffee house as at Bill’s Blues Bar during open-mike brunch.

Fans of former Men at Work frontman Colin Hay’s solo efforts should particularly appreciate Jay Einhorn’s “Start Over.” Though stylistically similar, the two artists differ in that Hay’s prefers simple lyrics, while Einhorn delves into the complicated poetry of a man who has spent a lifetime searching for the answers, and is finally ready to speak.