No Defenses by Eric Harrison

Welcome to my sixth and best full length album!

If there’s any unifying theme to be found among these songs it’s the wisdom of accepting the inevitable while still fighting the forces that feed off each other to drive us apart. Technology, tribalism, truth decay . . . their ascent makes meaningful human connection both harder to achieve and more urgently needed.

The album begins with a defiant response to an early Suzanne Vega ode to desire. What does a force of nature become when her greatest ally is betrayed by a simple twist of fate?

“Undertow” attempts to answer that question with a call to arms against hopelessness. We had no choice but to kick off the album with this track, as nothing screams “smash hit” louder than a T.S. Eliot or D.H. Lawrence reference . . . right?! (I know, I know . . . I won’t quit my day job.)

All 14 of these tracks were written in New Jersey and recorded by the great Kevin Salem in Woodstock between 2020 and 2022 - except for “Somerset,” a gem that Kevin hatched on his own and honored me to dress up with some new lyrics and vocals.

Each of these songs means a lot to me. And while I will save the track by track analysis for the deluxe reissue in 2040, I feel obliged to add a few words about the final track in hopes of enticing those kindred travelers who may be inclined to engage the full itinerary as intended:

“No Defenses” docks the album at a proudly blonde-on-blonde port of call to cop to some venal sins of the heart in suburbia. Our narrator testifies that he’s seen the Rapture coming! Then he cleans his lenses . . . only to discover that . . . midlife catharsis can deliver some clarity and joy.

That’s about where I am these days, and I hope you’ll remain with me for the duration.

Love, Eric

Tracklist

1.	Undertow	3:36

2.	Unrung	3:07

3.	Melody	4:14

4.	Until You Come Around	4:24

5.	Gloria, Glory-Bound	4:33

6.	Somerset	2:39

7.	Astor Place	5:20

8.	Relay Road	4:39

9.	Good Intentions	4:03

10.	A Win or a Loss	3:41

11.	The Fundament	3:52

12.	Shadows	4:37

13.	The Ending	3:35

14.	No Defenses	4:06

15.	Gloria, Glory-Bound	4:33

Credits

released March 3, 2023

Words and Music (c) 2021 and 2022 Eric Harrison (BMI) except “Somerset” - Words and Music (c) 2022 Kevin Salem (Van Rier Music, BMI) and Eric Harrison (BMI)

Background vocals by Tabitha Fair on “The Ending” and Kevin Salem on “Somerset”

All Drums/Guitars/Bass/Keyboards by Kevin Salem except:

Rich Mercurio: Drums on “The Fundament”

Nadia DiGiallonardo: Piano on “The Fundament”

Michael Arrom: Organ on “Undertow” and piano on “No Defenses”

Max Abrams: Horn arrangement, tenor and soprano sax on “No Defenses”

Steve Patrick: trumpet and trombone on “No Defenses”

Neil Konouchi: tuba on “No Defenses”

Tracy Bonham: Fiddle on “No Defenses”

License