The instrumentation used to lay the foundation for the vocals in this album are: Melodeon, Viola, Acoustic guitar, Cello, Stroh violin, Upright bass, Glockenspiels, Ukulele and Violin. Writing instructors always tell you to put your thesis up front, so that everyone knows the point of your essay, paper, etc. So without further ado, I present my thesis: You MUST go purchase Eli August’s new album ‘Let This House Burn Slowly”. "This is not an album you will listen to once and forget. Nor are they the type of songs that one skips over for better ones. Make no mistake, when listening to ‘Let This House Burn Slowly’, you will be carried along with the journey of melancholy, beauty, and even sometimes hope that permeates the entire album. I’d like to highlight a few of my favorite songs from the album, though it really should be listened to as a complete piece. ‘The Train Derail’ uses an old Depression-era revival style chorus to encourage participation in the emotional maelstrom at the heart of the album. Listening to “The Second Story”, I feel like I’m in a game of tug-o-war, with the music pulling me back and forth, as the vocals echo. And what can I say about ‘Hidden Eden’? It’s simply a perfect song. Heartbreaking, passionate, haunting, all in one. And if you’ve not seen it live, with Mike Darnell rocking the standing bass, you’ve truly missed one of the great live experiences. The lyrics are an amazing poem all on their own, but combined with the music, Eli's wrenching vocals will tear a hole in your heart. Creepy notes picked out and disseminated like sharp raindrops bracket ‘Crawling Again’. The meat of the song continues the unsettling feeling. Just try to turn it off. The song begins with slowly building horror and flows into the emptiness of loss. Simply beautiful. I’ve introduced several friends to Eli August, and none have been disappointed. ‘Let This House Burn Slowly’ has ended up being one of my favorite albums of the year, and I plan on continuing to pass along the message of Eli August to others who have yet to discover this incredible band". - Shannon Sofian