With his trademark raspy, warm voice in tow,
Cliff Eberhardt
imparts
School for Love
with what sounds like a newfound passion and understanding of life. It's no wonder, considering he survived the sickness and death of his mother along with a serious car accident that left him suffering from chronic pain. He credits his musical compatriot
Seth Farber
and
Farber
's vocalist wife,
Liz Queler
, with helping him through this dark phase and finishing the record. It's not that he necessarily came out the other end smiling at the beauty and peace awaiting him. Rather,
Eberhardt
uses his work to pose some tough questions, search for the right answers, and offer his revelations on songs like
"Love Slips Away"
"Will You Ever Love Again."
He also sketches images of his journey, possibly as means to an end of closure, on
"Memories of You,"
"Merry-Go-Sorry,"
"Blessings."
For a "dark phase" record,
has an awfully uplifting feel to its examinations of love and loss. That's a credit to the fine artistry and enduring spirit of
. For some reason, he tagged the
traditional
"Clementine"
on as the closing track. It's a bit of a shocker as it sneaks up on the heels of the poignant
ballad
"Never Fall in Love."
~ Kelly McCartney