The Ugly American

Released in 2003 on Thirsty Ear, The Ugly American represents a pivotal moment in Mark Eitzel's solo career where he sought to deconstruct his own legacy. Recorded in Athens with a group of traditional Greek musicians, the album features ten re-recordings of songs originally performed by his band American Music Club. The project was born from Eitzel's fascination with Rebetiko, a style of music often called the 'Greek blues,' which emerged from the urban subculture of the early 20th century. This stylistic marriage proves remarkably effective; the inherent melancholy and minor-key structures of Rebetiko perfectly complement Eitzel's lyrical themes of isolation and romantic ruin. Critics, including those at AllMusic, praised the record for its ability to cast his best-known works in a 'fascinating and pleasurable' new light, moving away from the lo-fi or electronic experiments of his previous solo outings toward a rich, acoustic traditionalism.