In a sea of twenty-something male singer-songwriters, newcomer Eric Hutchinson is not your average wave, quickly passing only to crash against the shore of monotony. Okay, maybe that is a little too metaphoric, but it is safe to say that Hutchinson's debut effort "That Could've Gone Better" showcases the talents of a unique young artist in the making.

Normally this would be a paragraph about where Eric came from, where he plays most of his shows (the east coast), what his favorite color is (best guess: blue), and what starlet he was last seen with at that club in LA. Unfortunately, at the incredibly color-coordinated website owned by Hutchinson (www.eric-hutchinson.com) there was not much information to pick up. There is a picture of the Boston skyline on the album cover; maybe that has some meaning to it. If you check out the "Bio" link on the website you can design his life yourself in a Mad Libs kind of format, and read an interview with Eric, conducted by Eric himself. Though it isn't very handy for album reviewers and the like, Hutchinson's "bio" sends a message that this is not about him, who he has a crush on or the last book he read; this is about his music. So let's get to it.

"That Could've Gone Better" is a diverse collection of songs. Some people (my mother) might call it a little bit country. Others, a little bit rock and roll. Either way, it is nothing like anything The Osmonds have ever released. The opening song "Subtitles" romps through a confused relationship and immediately calls itself one of the standout tracks on the record. "Rock N' Roll" is a very strong follow-up, as is "Breakdown More" with its quasi-Calypso rhythm. "Jettison" and "Same Mistakes" are somber ballad-types at the beginning and end of the track listing. "Please" finishes the record fiercely, and stretches Hutchinson's softer vocals to a pleasantly gritty tone. It would be nice to see more than seven tracks on the album, but Hutchison seems to be the type that likes to keep his audience guessing.

In the recent trend of singer-songwriters, it is hard to distinguish what qualifies as truly artistic music and what is just teenage, acoustic dribble. There is no question about Hutchinson's album. The vocals might take a few listens to get used to, but overall the songwriting is solid and rhythmic, the lyrics clever and heartfelt. Most importantly, it is an album that stands out in a crowd, even if it is inappropriately titled.