Playing from the heart... it will outlast any trends that bound over the cultural horizon. In the pop world Bruno Mars currently embodies that sentiment. Veering into the folk rock vein we've got Matt Nathanson defending the honor of artists with depth. "The Last of The Great Pretenders" was released a mere eleven days ago. From said album comes "Earthquake Weather". It certainly possesses a defining rumble not unlike an earthquake. At its "epicenter" Matt makes it plain that he'd kill anyone who treats his lady as badly as he has. How clever it is that he works in other explosive imagery such as the fireworks at a 4th of July parade to make his point. As has been common with many past artists, he wants to believe love works out. He and she watching the parade wrapped in beach towels but the proof is still lacking. The direction he takes his guitar, wobbling upward ever cautiously mirrors his own brave uncertainty. The way he belts out the chorus, "It feels like summer but it's earthquake weather", doesn't spare a single drop of sensitive dude vulnerability. As a result his rooting value skyrockets to his own private plateau. If he doesn't have the girl as yet, you want him to find the right combination which will open the lock to her heart. Drummer Konrad Meissner doesn't keep time so much as he drums Matt to the pivotal moment of release the chorus represents. There's the march to catharsis, the catharsis itself, followed a repeat of the march to divest Matt of still more catharsis. The body of this folk rock machine chugs along worthily. The ride will get you where you need to go and maybe even put a knowing smile on your face while you ride. Thank (or blame if you want) Matt's genuine leading man chops. Dare I say he fits the profile of the statement, "Women want to be with him. Guys want to be him." He's an accessible hunk by design. Having a cold beer with him wouldn't fall under "impossible dream". Just a mesmerizing gent in his early forties trying not to drown in the elevating waters of love or, get swept up in the rubble of the earthquake. If ever there was a male vocalist with the goods needed to debunk the myth that guys are incapable of expressing their feelings, Matt's that someone. Need convincing? How about this lyric: "It comes natural to be so cruel, to be an asshole to someone as good as you." Direct admittance of culpability. Wow. Any of you ladies want to march down the aisle with him? Sadly for you gals he's taken. Lucky is the woman who's Ms. Matt Nathanson. He doesn't run from the notion that he's capable of doing his woman wrong. "Earthquake Weather" nudges the musical Richter Scale in a compelling direction that's worth any and all aftershock.
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