The Pelican’s Perch

Matt Costa - Unfamiliar Faces

Posted by Kevin
April 7, 2008

After at least five comments and a few more emails to boot, I’ve finally given in to everyone’s Matt Costa recommendations. I believed you guys that I’d like Costa’s music, since my music taste seemed to set off some Matt Costa red alarm for many of you, I just hadn’t gotten around to checking him out until now. Well, here I am saying I like his new album Unfamiliar Faces. I like it, but I don’t love it. It’s perfect music for this beautiful sunny day, especially “Mr. Pitiful” and the great folksy album closer “Miss Magnolia. I probably have five or so listens through thus far, with it purposely being the only cd in my car, forcing me to listen to it a lot, and the more I listen to it, the more I realize “Mr. Pitiful” is simply a hard act to follow.

My first introduction to his album was “Mr. Pitiful” and that instantly had me perking my head up in interest, then bobbing my head and ultimately singing along kind of, with my own gibberish lyrics since I didn’t know the words. “Lilacs” follows next changing moods a bit and feeling a lot like a poppy Decemberists song. Costa definitely has a Colin Meloy meets Zach Rogue singing voice. The rest of the album is good, but never really holds my interest like the opening two songs. “Emergency Call” is a good, straight-forward rock song. “Vienna” feels like Sondre Lerche wrote a song and had Zach Rogue sing it. One of the better songs in the middle of the album. “Downfall” is another Decemberists sound alike and “Trying to Lose My Mind” follows being my favorite song behind the opening two. My recommendation to Costa is to keep his future songs upbeat and piano driven. The best songs on this new album are all upbeat, and the piano just adds so much to each song. Maybe it’s just my general dislike for straight-forward guitar, bass, drum rock, but that’s what has always distinguished my favorite singer/songwriters (Sondre Lerche, John Vanderslice, Sufjan Stevens), from those that are simply good, but don’t stand out from the crowd. “Miss Magnolia” ends the album with an odd, yet very fun folk number with mandolin and the whole bluegrass jam session feel and La-di-da’s to boot.

Hopefully, this satisfies all you kids begging for me to check out Matt Costa. It’s not the most positive review, but there’s not enough stand-out tracks or wow moments to keep my interest any extended period of time. No year end lists for me here, but I will give Costa one thing. He sure knows how to make some good summer jams. And that I’ll always give props for.