Matt Nathanson Band • Page 3

I had never heard of him.

And I should have known about him, as I wiki him.

 

OK.

 

This new album is EXTREMELY my shit.

 

Not the Matt Nathanson I dig unfortunately.
REALLY loved Pretenders and Fangs. Didnt really connect with the last two at all.

 

Waiting to listen until I go on my walk this afternoon. Have only listened to the first single, very excited.

 

Hitting a very nice summer morning spot right now.

 

Listening to this because of Donovan Woods. They co-wrote on Boston Accent (the song) and I've seen Donovan play it live. Not sure if they did any other songs together, but its always cool to hear about other artists or bands from their friends/supporters.

 

This is really refreshing from him and a nod to his pre-When Everything Meant Everything days. He said its the first singer-songwriter album he's done since Ernst, and he's not wrong.

Pretty stripped and bare as far as instrumentation...these songs will pair nicely with Some Mad Hope on the Fall tour.

I'm a fan. Have only given it one listen thus far but expect to add a few more listens before the weekend is out.

 

His past few, where he's been in mad pop scientist mode, have been a lot of fun, but it's cool to hear him really focus in on the songwriting this time.

 

@Craig Manning this album is really great. You say it's lyrics-first and that's totally true, but it ALSO backs it up in the musical end of things too, which is usually where lyrics-first albums lose me. The melodies here are clever, the instrumentation may be sparse but it's not straight-forward, it's creative and beautiful. The songs have hooks to bring you back, not in-your-face mega hooks, but plenty to make you remember each track and have something to grab you. PLUS the vocal melodies here are really well done, you can definitely hear some Butch, but I notice at least another vocal or two, of course a female vocalist on Beginners, but I hear a few more. They blend really well.

 

Really glad you enjoyed it. And I think you hit the nail on the head here. He took what he learned from making adventurous pop records and applied it to a stripped-down solo record. Plus, Butch is a guy who knows how to make records like that dynamic and interesting. And it doesn't hurt that Matt has a few top-tier co-writers here, like Donovan Woods and Lori McKenna/Hillary Lindsey.

 

Butch also helped write some of the songs on Sings His Sad Heart. But they clearly went in a different but just as good direction here.

 

“Blush” is just..swoon

 

This whole thing is good, but those last three songs really elevate it to “great” for me. Some of his best love songs.

 

Have you seen the credits? Any notable co-writes besides Donovan Woods and Lori McKenna?

 

The vinyl hasn't come in yet, so I haven't been able to find the full songwriting credits info. Interested to see who else he was working with, though. He hasn't brought in names like that on past albums -- folks really known first and foremost for being songwriters -- so I'd imagine there are more notable credits. Will report back when I can!

 

Some Mad Hope show tonight was fantastic. Started with a mini set of other songs, then the album, then a few more songs.
He referenced how he hated musical theate and heard me say “rude,” and we had a playful spat during Falling Apart, lol. He sang the first verse to me, took my hat, and held my hand.

he also had some very choice words to say about Joshua Radin during the VIP event before the show. Yikes.

 

Care to spill that tea? Seeing him on Tuesday night, looking forward to it.

 

Wow. didnt know he was playing all of mad hope. thats cool.

 

Someone have a spare vinyl copy of Last of the Great Pretenders laying around? I'd gladly take it off of them! :)

 

Oh shit, that was you? I was wondering why he singled you out during that one. Haha

 

Definitely me, haha! When he said he hated musicals i blurted out “you came out to Xanadu!” he laughed and said “let me finish!”

when he started the song in the theatrical way, he kept pointing at me and singing to me, so I played along. When he was holding my hand he said “real glad you were in the front!”

super fun moment. All in good fun!

 

Finally got to see Matt live for the first time tonight in Toronto. Seating was first come, first serve. Me and my wife had second row. After Steven Kellogg opened the folks in front of us gave us their seats so we managed to watch Matt's from the front!

Seated concerts, front row on a Tuesday night and over by 10pm is wonderful haha.

Oh, and he absolutely killed it. It's everything I would've expected from seeing him live, laughter, a bit of teary eyed moments and just an all around solid set.

His latest album has grown on me a lot the past few weeks!

 

Saw him this past weekend in Northampton MA! Agreed it was a fantastic show. Band has been battling all the illnesses and Matt’s vocal cords have been affected but you could barely tell.

I did the VIP and he played the song I requested (Fall to pieces) and remembered me from another show. Blew my mind he could remember certain details from a show six months ago, haha.

We got Sing Me Sweet during the actual show which was a great surprise.

 

I was at the first show of the tour in Orlando and it was a blast. Almost 4 years to the day I proposed to my now-wife at Matt’s meet-and-greet.