The soul-drenching Get Back My Way by Eddie Cohn is a song that returned him to his indie-rock roots, a song that seems to be an embrace of an old friend who went through the storms of life. Cohn, born in Los Angeles but possessing Cleveland grit, puts his heart into this single, with a raw emotion but with a grunge-inspired twist that reminds of the Seattle scene of the 90s that he cherishes. The song begins with a light acoustic strum drawing you right up close and then it crashes into a heavy crescendo of electric guitar, pounding bass, and bellowing cello. It is a journey--close, then broad, as a heart gaping open.
The weariness of Cohn, the unnerving quality of his voice, has a burden of a man who has been through trying times. His performance is unpolished, sincere, and full of appreciation, and he creates a story of a rediscovery and remaining down-to-earth in the upheaval of life. The instrumentation, with Brett Farkas on scorching guitar, Dan Lutz on bass, Jake Reed on thunder, and Phil Peterson on haunting cello, is rich and layered, and seems nostalgic and new at the same time. The multi-instrumental skill of Cohn is in evidence and the song is rooted in his own style.
What hits hardest is the song’s message: the call to get back to what can make us complete. It helps to remind us to take things slow, to enjoy the simple things, and to be able to create despite whatever life presents to you. Recorded in home studios in Pasadena to Hawaii, Get Back My Way is a tribute to the painstaking work and undying determination of Cohn.
When you listen to Get Back My Way, you can't but sense the path that Cohn has taken through his youth of banging the family piano up to his health challenges and a diversion in a real estate career. The slow rhythm of the song reflects his philosophy of allowing creativity to develop gradually, as a painter with a canvas. It is a daring reminder that Cohn is not only a musician, but a narrator that has experienced every note and he wants us to discover our own path back to what is important to us. It is not a song, it is a call to all people who are seeking their truth and it is surrounded by a sound that leaves a long time after the last note.
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