Veteran singer/songwriter Mark Huff’s ninth solo release Stars For Eyes explores the horizons of life and love, as well as everything in between. Huff collaborates with Grammy-winning producer Chad Brown to create an eleven track pop-country album that expands Huff’s musical boundaries; as he set out to make the most heartfelt and honest record that he could. Going through a messy breakup at the time of writing this album, you can feel Huff’s anguish with songs like, “I Know You Don’t Want My Love.”
Dream-like soundscapes and Huff’s melodic vocal style pair seamlessly in Stars for Eyes as he sets out to tell his story in just over forty minutes.
The fourth track on the album, “Big City Down,” stands out from the rest of the pack as a beautiful love letter to Nashville, Tennesee, Huff’s second hometown. Huff moved to Music City in 2003 to further his songwriting career and fell in love with it immediately. “Big City Down,” pays homage to Nashville and its ever-changing atmosphere. From the local bars that are past their heyday, to the empty streets on Sunday mornings as families attend Church. The song is bittersweet; as if Huff wanted the listener to smile while shedding a tear, reminiscing over fond memories of an old friend.
Huff then completely changes the pace with, “God in Geography.” Sonically the song comes off much brighter, almost to the point of being called bubblegum rock, while still retaining the country flavor heard in, “Big City Down.” The song explores Huff’s faith in God. “Keep me warm, keep me warm. I’m just a baby in your arms.” is a lyric from the chorus of the song that perfectly summarizes the theme of the track. Huff talks about overcoming life’s obstacles, and how his beliefs help him persevere, even while climbing the steepest hills.
While the song may sound light and playful, the lyrics remain earnest, flexing Huff’s songwriting chops.
The title track, “Stars For Eyes,” is an ethereal and melodic love song. Huff sings about being lost in his lover’s eyes, and how he wants to stay there forever. He recounts his first time setting his sights on her, and the feelings he felt immediately. The song conveys a dreamy reality, not only with the lyrics but with the otherworldy “oohs” and “ahhs” backing Huff’s vocals throughout the track, or the atmospheric synth that makes you feel as if you’re floating through outer space looking down on the events taking place in the song. The track truly paints a picture with sound and is one of the best offerings of the album.
“For this album, I took the filters off. I decided to liberate myself as an artist.” Huff did just that with “Stars For Eyes,” as every track feels like a part of Huff’s life condensed into two or three minutes. He makes it incredibly easy to sympathize with his heartbreak, or to experience the same feeling of euphoria he felt when first laying eyes on his lover. Lyrically, the album tells an incredibly vivid story. Musically, the record conveys emotion in ways that words alone never could. Huff set out to tell his story in the most sincere way possible and most certainly achieved his goal.
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