Eric Sanders

“They say it gets better with time,” Eric Sanders sings on “They Say All Kinds of Things,” It Ain’t All About You‘s fourth cut — and in this case, whoever the hell “they” are is right. The first three tracks initially underwhelm, and no wonder, since two of them feature ill-advised flute lines. But as the album progresses, Sanders’s brawny singing, Eliza Bertolin’s piano and Adrienne Short’s violin gain power, due in part to the players’ preference for feeling over perfection. Sour notes pop up now and again throughout the title tune, which features guest vocals by Melissa Ivey, but they enhance the passionate performance rather than detract from it. The recording’s overall solidity proves that where you start is less important than where you finish.