Erik Brandt / Urban Hillbilly Quartet

“Brandt and his supporting cast of collaborators certainly throw their stylistic net far and wide with this collection, taking in sweet 'n' sharp power-pop with a Jayhawk-esque slant on opener ‘Greater Than’, to crunchier country rock on ‘Don’t Let It Happen To You’, to the fairly standard low-slung Blues-Rock of ‘Anywhere But Here’. But even by these standards, the hushed bluesy jazz of ‘Thoughtless’ (including clarinet solo) near the album's close is a curveball that somehow pays off well.” Ian Fildes. Americana-uk.com. April 2012 - Americana-uk.com

“If superlatives come strong enough to do master singer-songsmith Erik Brandt’s
The Long Winter (House of Mercy Recordings) justice, they escape this reviewer.
Long-time head honcho of storied veterans the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, Brandt pulls
off a true tour de force with ingenious, eclectic originality, some of strongest songwriting you’re likely to ever come across. … Bottom line, the man is a musician’s musician.
Erik Brandt’s The Long Winter is one of those rare finds you’re going to find yourself yammering about to friends, family, and anyone else you can get to still long
enough to listen.”
Dwight Hobbes. Tcdailyplanet.net Mar 2012 - tcdailyplanet.net

“If superlatives come strong enough to do master singer-songsmith Erik Brandt’s
The Long Winter (House of Mercy Recordings) justice, they escape this reviewer.
Long-time head honcho of storied veterans the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, Brandt pulls
off a true tour de force with ingenious, eclectic originality, some of strongest songwriting you’re likely to ever come across. … Bottom line, the man is a musician’s musician.
Erik Brandt’s The Long Winter is one of those rare finds you’re going to find yourself yammering about to friends, family, and anyone else you can get to still long
enough to listen.”
Dwight Hobbes. Tcdailyplanet.net Mar 2012 - tcdailyplanet.net

“Giving himself the freedom to explore all possibilities, St. Paul, Minnesota
singer/songwriter Erik Brandt lets go with his eclectic, third solo project, “The Long Winter.” The frontman for the Urban Hillbilly Quartet steps out here with his own
dark-but-hopeful blend of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz.”
Janet Goodman. Music News Nashville. April 2012
- Music News Nashville

“Giving himself the freedom to explore all possibilities, St. Paul, Minnesota
singer/songwriter Erik Brandt lets go with his eclectic, third solo project, “The Long Winter.” The frontman for the Urban Hillbilly Quartet steps out here with his own
dark-but-hopeful blend of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz.”
Janet Goodman. Music News Nashville. April 2012
- Music News Nashville

These concrete jungle hayseeds from the wind-whipped plains of St. Paul are fervent eclectics, liable to wander into funk, Arabic, or Irish music at the drop of a hi-hat. But their true allegiance is to bands like the Flying Burrito Brothers and their descendents, who like to mash together country, bluegrass, and rock n’ roll.


- CITY PAGES, Rick Mason

These concrete jungle hayseeds from the wind-whipped plains of St. Paul are fervent eclectics, liable to wander into funk, Arabic, or Irish music at the drop of a hi-hat. But their true allegiance is to bands like the Flying Burrito Brothers and their descendents, who like to mash together country, bluegrass, and rock n’ roll.


- CITY PAGES, Rick Mason

Amelia’s Boot is a gem of an album. If Brandt and UHQ continue to make these kinds of evolutions, I have no doubt that we’ll soon be brandishing words like“masterpiece” and drawing comparisons with albums like Fisherman’s Blues.”

- PASTE MAGAZINE, Tim Porter

Amelia’s Boot is a gem of an album. If Brandt and UHQ continue to make these kinds of evolutions, I have no doubt that we’ll soon be brandishing words like“masterpiece” and drawing comparisons with albums like Fisherman’s Blues.”

- PASTE MAGAZINE, Tim Porter

The name says it all. Erik Brandt & the Urban Hillbilly Quartet are the new face of Americana. This isn’t Willie Nelson’s weary lullaby of rural American. No, this is Ben Folds fronting Uncle Tupelo. And it rocks. While the Urban Hillbilly’s love for pure country music is obvious, their sound doesn’t quite fit the conventional canon. Highly recommended for fans of The Court and Spark’s eccentric twang or Wilco’s rustic experimentation.

- SHUT EYE (Atlanta, GA) Ryan Hoffer

Totally devoid of any cliché. Roots music at its best and refreshment for my ears!...9 out of 10 stars
- CROSSRHYTHMS MAGAZINE (UK) Mike Rimmer

The name says it all. Erik Brandt & the Urban Hillbilly Quartet are the new face of Americana. This isn’t Willie Nelson’s weary lullaby of rural American. No, this is Ben Folds fronting Uncle Tupelo. And it rocks. While the Urban Hillbilly’s love for pure country music is obvious, their sound doesn’t quite fit the conventional canon. Highly recommended for fans of The Court and Spark’s eccentric twang or Wilco’s rustic experimentation.

- SHUT EYE (Atlanta, GA) Ryan Hoffer

In Minneapolis Erik captains the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, whose Amelia’s Boot is split between jazz-fusion bluegrass hippie jams and alt-country....In “Need to Love” he raps clumsily with soul sisters behind him; in “100 Years,” his doomsday-warning voice sounds a whole lot like Bruce Cockburn.

- VILLAGE VOICE (NYC)

In Minneapolis Erik captains the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, whose Amelia’s Boot is split between jazz-fusion bluegrass hippie jams and alt-country....In “Need to Love” he raps clumsily with soul sisters behind him; in “100 Years,” his doomsday-warning voice sounds a whole lot like Bruce Cockburn.

- VILLAGE VOICE (NYC)

UHQ pushes Americana’s boundaries beyond breaking point on “Amelia’s Boot”, throwing smoky jazz, funk and even punk doo-wap into the brew.

- AMERICANA-UK.COM Peter Bate

UHQ pushes Americana’s boundaries beyond breaking point on “Amelia’s Boot”, throwing smoky jazz, funk and even punk doo-wap into the brew.

- AMERICANA-UK.COM Peter Bate

Erik Brandt of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet introduces his excellent new solo album, Green Eyed Alone—a warm and engaging disc which has great potential to find an audience outside the normal alt-country circles.
March 2006
- PIONEER PRESS (St Paul, MN) Ross Raihala

Erik Brandt of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet introduces his excellent new solo album, Green Eyed Alone—a warm and engaging disc which has great potential to find an audience outside the normal alt-country circles.
March 2006
- PIONEER PRESS (St Paul, MN) Ross Raihala

Another CD from the House of Mercy that oozes heart, Erik Brandt of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet is issuing his first bona-fide solo disc Green Eyed Alone. Echoing the Jayhawk’s piano-fueled twang-pop, the album incudes a lot of Brandt’s UHQ cohorts and guest vocals from Tim O’Reagan.
March 2006

- STAR TRIBUNE (Minneapolis) Chris Riemenschneider

Another CD from the House of Mercy that oozes heart, Erik Brandt of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet is issuing his first bona-fide solo disc Green Eyed Alone. Echoing the Jayhawk’s piano-fueled twang-pop, the album incudes a lot of Brandt’s UHQ cohorts and guest vocals from Tim O’Reagan.
March 2006

- STAR TRIBUNE (Minneapolis) Chris Riemenschneider

One of the best albums this year is already out, but you probably haven’t heard of theartist behind it: Erik Brandt. Green Eyed Alone is the singer-songwriter’s first solo album,
and though I’ve enjoyed his work for years as the front man of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, his latest is definitely his best.
- SOUTH COUNTRY CHRONICLE (VA) Rob Blackwell

Erik Brandt, singer/multi instrumentalist with the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, skillfully spans a range of genres as broad as his travels—from Oakland, Calif., to British pubs to Australia. Brandt’s vocals, at times fiery and at others plaintive and haunting, melancholy piano and quirky songwriting make for a great CD accessible to everyone.”
March 2006
- THE PULSE (Minneapolis/St Paul) Cyn Collins

One of the best albums this year is already out, but you probably haven’t heard of theartist behind it: Erik Brandt. Green Eyed Alone is the singer-songwriter’s first solo album,
and though I’ve enjoyed his work for years as the front man of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, his latest is definitely his best.
- SOUTH COUNTRY CHRONICLE (VA) Rob Blackwell