Singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson has been playing the college circuit for quite a few years now, impressing coeds with his energetic live show (which often includes a collection of well-known covers) and heartfelt guitar playing. So those already enamored of Nathanson should have no reason for complaint on his second major-label release -- and sixth overall -- Some Mad Hope. The same themes he's dealt with on his previous albums -- regret and desire, roughly -- are here, the same sentimental lyrics and sweet descriptions of past loves, presented in major keys and with clean production. It's typical stuff but it's done well, mixed so Nathanson's emotive voice comes through clearly. But for these same reasons, those unfamiliar with the musician's repertoire may be unimpressed by his overall ordinariness. His melodies, his lyrics, and his arrangements are hard to distinguish from all the Howie Days, Jason Mrazs, Mat Kearneys, and Ari Hests out there. While Nathanson occasionally has a good line or two ("September took the tourists and settled in for good/We could hear the trains again/Brooklyn girls in scarves"), his lyrics neglect subtlety and nuance completely, opting instead for the obvious and straightforward. Not that everything needs to be shadowed in gray and distant allusions, but yet another "Come on and drive me wild" or "I want to be somebody else" is boring and unoriginal and gets lost in the immense pile of clichés, limiting the album's reasons to be listened to. There are a few bits that stand out (the stripped-down "Bulletproof Weeks," the interesting emotional semi-detachment of "Gone"), but most of Some Mad Hope is inoffensive and unremarkable -- certainly not bad, but only good enough to satisfy longtime fans and not win any new ones.
First, I would like people to note that I'm generally on top of alternative pop, if you will. Feist? At least a few years early (and before that silly ipod commercial).But this one? I've been on this bandwagon for...oh, maybe 6 years.Here's what I mean. Matty Nay has this following. Girls, guys, young, older, all of them know each and every lyric. He's a pretty good lyricist (mostly in th...
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Earlier this week (Tuesday, August 15th) I was invited to attend Matt Nathason's show at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. The show was put on by KFOG in celebration of Matt's new album release (Some Mad Hope) which hit shelves on Monday. The concert was FUN FUN FUN and I would go see Matt Nathanson play again any time. In all honesty, the man should second as a comedian, he is to...
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First off... being a *Philly Girl* it is really hard for me to put the song *+Detroit Waves+* as the TAG... but it's worth it... the song is spectacular. The drumming in the song reminds me of old school U2 Larry Mullen Jr. on the skins as it barrels along & never lets up; THAT is the only school of the *_YOU TWO_* that I RAWK !!! I am especially fond of *_WAR_*. I wish there was a way to get...
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I miss the rush of your skinI miss the still of the silenceas you breathe out and I breathe inif I could walk on waterif i could tell you what's nextmake you believe make you forgetcome on get higher loosen my lipsfaith and desireand the swing of your hipsjust pull me down hardand drown me in lovecome on get higher loosen my lipsfaith and desireand the swing of your hipsjust pull me down hardan...
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Matt Nathanson's new record 'Some Mad Hope' is full of songs about love ended and, like the title suggests, some mad hope of rekindling that love.It's a beautiful record...heartbreaking at times, but beautiful.
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I have been on a major singer/songwriter kick lately...we all go through phases as music lovers...lately i have been listening more to this sort of stuff than the traditional rock band oriented stuff.I just wanted to post another Matt Nahthanson song before i stepped out...i can't stop playing his latest record.
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First off... being a *Philly Girl* it is really hard for me to put the song *+Detroit Waves+* as the TAG... but it's worth it... the song is spectacular. The drumming in the song reminds me of old school U2 Larry Mullen Jr. on the skins as it barrels along & never lets up; THAT is the only school of the *_YOU TWO_* that I RAWK !!! I am especially fond of *_WAR_*. I wish there was a way to get...
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so I recently told the story of how Ingrid Michaelson broke my heart in January by dropping out of a concert I had tickets to. However, something fabulous came out of that concert, and that was Matt Nathanson. I had never really heard of him, but I decided to go anyway. SO glad that I did, because I instantly fell in love. The truth is, his album is good, but a bit forgettable. He is defini...
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Earlier this week (Tuesday, August 15th) I was invited to attend Matt Nathason's show at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. The show was put on by KFOG in celebration of Matt's new album release (Some Mad Hope) which hit shelves on Monday. The concert was FUN FUN FUN and I would go see Matt Nathanson play again any time. In all honesty, the man should second as a comedian, he is to...
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Just watch. (sorry embedding won't work, please click the link!) http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5665944What a story... not much more I can say, except I love Matt Nathanson even more now.
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Caught this new video on VH1 Fresh last night from Matt Nathanson.
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First, I would like people to note that I'm generally on top of alternative pop, if you will. Feist? At least a few years early (and before that silly ipod commercial).But this one? I've been on this bandwagon for...oh, maybe 6 years.Here's what I mean. Matty Nay has this following. Girls, guys, young, older, all of them know each and every lyric. He's a pretty good lyricist (mostly in th...
More >
So....A really good friend (well I thought was a good friend) is getting married. How did I find out? By other people. When is it? Not sure, wasn't invited.I guess I'm having a pity party. Need music to feed it. Give me some depressing songs... or happy, whichever you think is appropriate.
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This is happening as I speak here in Portland, this is a video from last year's extravanganza, I live on a hilly area with a street like this, but I think people are smarter on this side of the mountian.. I should talk this was almost me on Sunday morning on my way home without chains. Chains or not, it came be a hockey rink with no place to grab hold.. this video is comical but scary as hell!
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Today, Matt Nathanson posted a video of himself playing "All We Are," the last track off of his forthcoming release, Some Mad Hope. I've converted it into an mp3 for your pleasure, check out www.mattnathanson.com for the video clip. The song itself is very pretty. Great riff, nice progression, nice lyrics and vocals. Well done Matt.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Car Crash |
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| 2 Come on Get Higher |
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| 3 Heartbreak World |
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| 4 Gone |
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| 5 Wedding Dress |
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| 6 Bulletproof Weeks |
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| 7 To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts |
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| 8 Still |
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| 9 Detroit Waves |
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| 10 Falling Apart |
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| 11 Sooner Surrender |
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| 12 All We Are |
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