Eric Anders & Mark O'Bitz : Singer-Songwriter Duo
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"So Far Gone is a truly exceptional piece of art – both melodically and lyrically."
Audrey Castel, Illustrate Magazine
"So Far Gone [is a] delicious album [that] has all the ingredients to make you addicted. You will be immersed in pure and organic melodies that lie between rock and melancholy pop and contain sincere and breathtaking vocal lines.​ The arrangements are meticulously created, worthy of the greatest, and make So Far Gone a superlative opus that will take you out of time.​"
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"So Far Gone" is "resoundingly powerful" and "bang on" ... "Fantasyland is "dreamy and enchanting" ... "Hey Josephine" is an emotional "seven-minute epic" ... This EP is a "wonderful experience."
- Kartik Sundar, Find No Enemy
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Eric and Mark are "masters of songwriting ... They are back with yet another masterpiece."
So Far Gone
An Anders/Butler/O'Bitz Blues-Rock Project
Released August 22, 2022
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Produced and Mixed by Mike Butler
Mastered by Jamal Ruhe
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Eric Anders - Vocals
Mark O’Bitz - Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Organ, Piano
Randy Ray Mitchell - Dobro, Bass
Mike Butler - Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Bass, Piano, Keyboards, Organ
Matt Lynott - Drums
Jenn Grinels - Backing Vocals
Eric and Mark are "masters of songwriting ... They are back with yet another masterpiece called So Far Gone... The first song ... “So Far Gone” [has] an awesome catchy hook ... “So Far Gone” is a wonderful track and opening to the EP... “Dirty Sun” [has] a beautiful melody ... With long-sustaining vocals and harmonies, it is purely mesmerizing ... So Far Gone is a wonderful set of songs."
"So Far Gone" is "resoundingly powerful" and "bang on" ... "Fantasyland is "dreamy and enchanting" ... "Hey Josephine" is an emotional "seven-minute epic" ... This EP is a "wonderful experience."
Kartik Sundar, Find No Enemy
The band concludes the album with an inverted version of an old blues standard, switching genres on the classic 'Hey Joe'... The story of an unfaithful woman is exchanged for an abusive man and the possessive rage of a scorned lover is exchanged for righteous revenge against an evil wife beater... The brilliantly executed reinterpretation feels right, empowerment over the loss of control. A stunning final statement, from the soaring last solo down to its delicious decrescendo finish.
John C. Ireson, Music-News.com
Their new EP is So Far Gone and it includes six tracks, each of which tells its own story revealing deep feelings and life wisdom. Every song on this record is an outstanding example of songwriting and production. Warm guitar accompaniment is filled with pleasant ensemble playing where there are no unnecessary sounds and where there is soul. The lyrical component of the songs will satisfy everyone who loves poetry and seeks solace in it.
Album of the Day: SO FAR GONE by Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz
(Translated from the original French by Eric with help from Google Translate)
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Our editorial team has just discovered So Far Gone, the delicious album by singer-songwriter Eric Anders and composer-guitarist Mark O'Bitz.
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The album has all the ingredients to make you addicted. You will be immersed in pure and organic melodies that lie between rock and melancholy pop and contain sincere and breathtaking vocal lines.
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The arrangements are meticulously created, worthy of the greatest, and make So Far Gone a superlative opus that will take you out of time.
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So Far Gone (Original Album) By Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz
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I may have stumbled upon two hidden gems of Americana music. Mark O’Bitz and Eric Anders are two diamonds waiting to be discovered, and it's about time they get to shine their rays for the world to admire. Geniuses at work, the two have been making music for over two decades now and don’t plan on stopping for anything before becoming a global sensation. With their souls dedicated to perfecting this latest release.
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... the two have blessed the world with numerous releases and albums mastered by Eric’s unmatched songwriting skills and singing and backed by Mark’s flawless composing skills and guitar...
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So Far Gone is their latest masterpiece of an album that’s been forged out of the horrible days of the pandemic. Written and recorded by Eric and Mark during the lockdown, it is set to mark their greatest release to date as it beautifully captures that ambiance of longing for those great simple days we took for granted before the pandemic hit the world.
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Discover the result of over 20 years of experience; enjoy the rhythmic melodies as they blend beautifully with the thought-provocative lyrics of the tracks. Set to live on forever, "So Far Gone" is an immortal Americana piece that’ll blow your mind away. A truly magnificent track by one of the most talented artists to date.
Eric Anders and Mark O'Bitz - So Far Gone
(This Brazilian review was translated from the original Portuguese by Eric, with a little help from Google Translate)
The newest collaborative EP by Eric Anders and Mark O'Bitz is So Far Gone and it promises to win over fans and the music media. With a set of six songs, this is an exciting release that mixes folk, southern rock, and prog rock to make an old-school sound with light modern tones. This EP invites the listener on a nostalgic trip that sizzles with emotion.
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So Far Gone starts with incredible energy, proving that the duo was made to be together and made to create the best songs. From the very first song, the title track, we are surprised by the talent, particularly the vocal timbres. The sound recalls hits by Blind Faith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and America, with a melody that sticks in your head and forces you to sing along. The melodies on the guitar are passionate, along with instruments such as the violin, the classic dobro, and soft drums.
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The album has a lot of emotional composition, with tracks that tell stories - and Eric has the gift of singing in an intimate way as if he were telling his listeners a secret. This is another new release by Eric Anders and Mark OBitz, one which deserves attention and we will keep it on our playlist.
Jéssica Mar, Headbangers News
Anders/O'Bitz Release Their New EP with Strong Influences of Folk and Classic Rock
(This Brazilian review was translated from the original Portuguese by Eric, with a little help from Google Translate)
​Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz have released their new EP, So Far Gone, their second major release this year. ​Previously, they released their nine-track album The Loss We've Won.
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​The new work finds Anders/O’Bitz smashing the sound barriers between folk and country with the influences of classic rock.
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​The first track, "So Far Gone," is an anthem that could be in some western movie with dobro riffs and soft but serious beats. The expressive vocals are remarkable …
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​The third track "Fantasyland" … has a more uplifting style: it is a song that brings strong beats and slow and soft guitar riffs revealing a classic rock bent. The chorus is contagious. With its backing vocals, it powerfully enters our minds and the listener feels a growing and emotional atmosphere with this song.
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The fifth track "Dirty Sun" brings enveloping beats, guitar, and a distorted sound that seems to be a special effect or can be significantly distorted riffs. A deep vocal that sings the chorus with heart and soul, sings it with love, and passes it on to listeners in a country rock song.
The last track "Hey Josephine" has what it takes to be a rock anthem, with the guitars making sensational riffs. Soon the listener hears "Hello Josephine" and remembers "Hey Joe." It contains everything to be an anthem, but it really is an anthem, a retelling that iconically ends an EP with a heroic sound that includes rock, country, and folk.
The listener will travel this unique musical experience that is the EP So Far Gone in which Eric Anders makes in partnership with Mark O'Bitz.
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Victor Matheus, IN!
Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz – So Far Gone
So Far Gone ... is an Americana album that is filled with a lot of heart. The title track opens the album, and it is instantly engaging. We adore the gorgeous melodies, guitar work, and evolving sound. ‘Fantasyland’ is a stand-out song with an addictive groove, thought-provoking lyrics, and charismatic vocal performances. We adore the big chorus that features an engaging vibe and memorable melodies.
‘Dirty Sun’ is a track that injects the album with further layers of texture. The intelligently arranged instrumentation allows the song to build to a beautiful chorus that will have you reaching for the repeat button. Finally, ‘Hey Josephine’ is a fantastic take on the classic song ‘Hey Joe’; it closes the release and leaves you reaching for the repeat button.
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One thing is clear; Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz are both excellent musicians in their separate fields. However, when they come together, magic happens. Their styles complement each other, and together they have created a body of work that will stand the test of time.
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So Far Gone is a collection of spellbinding songs that come together to form a full body of work. It is a release that benefits from being listened to in one sitting. So turn the lights down and the volume up!
Make sure you add So Far Gone to your new music playlist this week. It is an album that stays with the audience long after the music has ended, and we cannot wait to hear further collaborations from these two troubadours. We are sure that So Far Gone will please existing Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz fans while winning them an army of new ones too!
Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz – So Far Gone -- 4/5 Stars
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Few artists were able to harness the opportunity given by the shutdowns quite like Eric Anders and Mark O'Bitz. The California duo have written a host of albums since March 2020 including those in their multi-faceted series Music in the Time of Coronavirus which will be looked back on as a real-time compendium of emotions taken from the various stages of our great planetary trial. Their latest record So Far Gone leans on the blues, sleepy indie, and an Americana sound to shape their affecting, pensive tracks. The album hits with the sense of a survived struggle. The finely cast rays of sun following a menacing torrent.
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A century-old acoustic blues mantra opens the record. Anders howls about “fetishizing the founders” over a steely, down-south six-string. The title track has that haunting Mississippi delta drawl that connects the ghosts of the past with the present. The group laments the missteps that keep recurring throughout American history and the tragic irony of their inescapable nature.
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'Above the Highest Spires' settles into the group's signature sauntering groove. O'Bitz's slow-burning guitar arpeggios are complemented by slow-rising bends. Anders strikes an aspirational note with a soulful bellow. 'Fantasyland' is driven by Matt Lynott's swaying kit work and elevated by Jenn Grinels' celestial backups that envelop the track in a pillowy cloud. 'Down to See' recalls the glowing indie splendor of Father John Misty's slow-stomping wistful sound (minus the pretentious arrogance). It gradually builds to a gospel/spaghetti western climax built on the shimmer of tremolo guitar and Grinels' angelic coo. 'Dirty Sun' is snappy and coy in the verses but erupts into wide-open abandon for the warming choruses.
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The band concludes the album with an inverted take on an old blues standard, flipping genders on the classic 'Hey Joe'. Languorous and slinky with fluid guitar backed by cinematic keys, the opening line “Hello Josephine, where you going with that gun in your hand” immediately piques your interest. The tale of a cheatin' woman gets swapped for an abusive man and the possessive rage of a scorned lover is exchanged for righteous revenge against a villainous wife-beater. “I'm goin' to shoot my old man/You know it's the last time he's gonna kick me around”. The brilliantly executed reinterpretation feels right, empowerment over the loss of control. A stunning final statement, from the soaring last solo down to its delicious decrescendo finish.
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Anders and O'Bitz strike gold once again, creating a stirring collection of tracks with their unique sonic signature. So Far Gone is cutting and comforting, warm and chilling, sorrowful and optimistic. Brilliant use of the colors on their palette by these singer-songwriters.
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John C. Ireson, Music-News.com
Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz – So Far Gone
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So Far Gone is a warming classic American rock EP. Its’ subtle, soft and full of bluesy licks and changes that make it timeless. Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz have once again blended their collective musical stylings and it works flawlessly. The instrumentals are crisp, the vocals are soaring and backed by all manner of delicious harmonies. So Far Gone feels personal and tuned for the world we live in right now, a classic sound with a modern message, refreshing.
‘So Far Gone’ is the title track and opener. It's acoustic and folky and acts as a hearty handshake - get to know the voice that will imbue you with uplifting melodies, the guitar that will sink into your skin, the drums that accent the songs with masterful finesse. The song is simple and slow, it builds to an open and breathy bridge that features a guitar-bending riff that feels like a sunrise it's so rich and warm. A brilliant opener by the books, now you know that Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz can follow the rules of American rock and blues, it's even more fun to listen to them play with its boundaries.
‘Above the Highest of Spires’ is up next, its vocal layers and wailing guitar bends fill the chorus with an angelic presence. The verses are modern, using keys and a droning guitar riff that makes the explosion at the chorus even more gratifying. The backing vocals add a depth to the song that takes us back to the classic rock sound. ‘Above the Highest of Spires’ feels like a triumph, and the sound that Anders and O’Bitz create is so personal that you feel like you were part of it, the uplifting spirit flows in abundance and will slap a smile on your face.
‘Fantasyland’ slows it down. Plucked guitar steals the show as the vocals cry solemnly into the instrumental that rises in response to its call. The chorus is smooth, it rolls rather than crashes, in from the left out to the right, as if it was never there at all. Harmonies fill out the space, they’re not overdone they just add enough texture for us to really feel the emotion that pours from each bar. A piano dances in the rain in the bridge as the vocals shower it with ooh’s and ahh’s. The EP is packed with these moments, where the songwriting duo decide to shift from the norm and present us with something new, even if it can throw us off balance it's worth it. These many gems that hide in the songs are what make So Far Gone sound like the classic rock powerhouse it is.
If it's been a bit rock heavy for you so far, ‘Down to See’ will be the song for you, its bluesy guitar wails flood the ears with tone and the open strums in the chorus add a presence that is rarely felt without layers and layers of vocals. Yet here, in ‘Down to See’ So Far Gone presents another of its gems. ‘Dirty Sun’ is the most experimental song on the album. It starts acoustic and quickly adds a pulsing synth tone behind the vocals. The chorus blows up like an Oasis classic. I instinctively searched for a lighter to sway in the night. ‘Dirty Sun’ is certainly my pick for the single for So Far Gone, it brings together everything that Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz have spent years perfecting, and does so effortlessly.
The album ends with a long ballad of sorts, ‘Hey Josephine’. It builds slowly and plays with a sound that is American Rock meets Country. Its’ lyrical storytelling takes centre stage and the song flows like silk. ‘Hey Josephine’ is a beautiful close to a solid EP, with guitar solos in abundance, harmonies, organs, and vocals that come into their own, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d recommend listening to So Far Gone just so you can hear these two American Rockers close it out in style.
Freddie McKee, TJPL News
Eric Anders And Mark O'Bitz Unveil Their Project So Far Gone
(Translated from the original French by Eric with help from Google Translate)
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The new Eric Anders and Mark O'Bitz EP entitled So Far Gone will make your day. Indeed, if like us you need a nice moment of breathing, a quality musical parenthesis, this project sounds like that nice surprise, the perfect soundtrack.
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From the first bars, you hear an explosion of sounds that grabs you. The quality of the production, the melodies, the choices of the mix, everything is done with a know-how that says a lot about the experience of these two artists, who we will be following in the coming weeks.
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Special mention goes to “Above The Highest Of Spires,” which is perhaps our favorite song of the project and which is also an excellent gateway into the universe of the Americana music of Eric Anders and Mark O'Bitz. This EP contains six high-quality songs that we recommend you discover without further delay.