A folk-rock unit in the mold of such classic examples as Fairport Convention or Renaissance, Grey Eye Glances formed in New Jersey early in the '90s around vocalist/guitarist Jennifer Nobel, keyboard player/vocalist Dwayne Keith and bassist Eric O'Dell. As befitting their literary pretensions -- their name comes from the poem "To One in Paradise" by Edgar Allan Poe -- the group began playing occasional shows at a nearby Borders Book Store, instead of the nightclubs natural to most bands. The trio released the eight-song mini-LP Songs of Leaving in May 1993 to sell at shows (on their own JED Records) and followed up with Further On... one year later. After organizing a tour of more than 50 Borders locations throughout the Middle Atlantic, Grey Eye Glances signed to Parachute/Mercury, were joined by Echolyn drummer Paul Ramsey and guitarist Brett Kull, and released their major-label debut Eventide in 1997. Painted Pictures followed in 1998. ~ John Bush