Toronto – What the heck am I doing reviewing a 2008 album? Get with the times bitches, you may say. Well sometimes, in life, you have to go back to go forward. What? I don’t know. I think it’s a title to a Stereophonics song or something. Released over a year ago, Matthew Barber‘s Juno nominated album ‘Ghost Notes’ is finally getting it’s US release. What took so long? I don’t know. I guess this is why parts of Asia still dresses like its 1985, some things just take time.
I did not listen to this album ever before this morning, but let me tell you after one listen – it’s pretty good. It’s very traditional folky rock music, filled with acoustic guitars, sometimes a piano, sometimes other VH1 instruments. There is female backing vocals sometimes and all in all, it is what you would expect from someone nominated for a ‘Best Roots/Traditional Solo Album’. Genre aside, a good album is a good album. This is the type of album you put on in the winter, when you are all in cozy sweaters, sitting near a fire place on a Sunday afternoon, reading a book you’ve read before, or maybe playing board games and having a jolly good time. Maybe a flannel shirt is involved. I guess this is the summer time, so that allusion doesn’t exactly work. You know what I mean. I guess any of these songs can be played on some prime time drama (ala Greys Anatomy or House) when there’s a montage and all the characters are reflecting over whatever issue has come to light from the episode. I swear to god, every tv show does this now. I think the OC was the first show to really perfect this whole ‘indie music dramatic montages’ schtick, and if that’s the shows lasting legacy, then I’ll be damned.
Actually I am reading the press release for this album, and Matt Barber says about this album:
I wanted the songs to hang together in a loose story of two lovers, from the perspective of one of them. While there are serious moments on the album and a feeling of emotional conflict, I feel as though it is ultimately hopeful, and ends on an uplifting note with “Our Voices.”
That kind of sums up the entire OC series doesn’t it? Ryan and Marissa, mainly from the view of Ryan. There are some serious moments during some show, and definitely a weekly feeling of emotional conflict. I guess that relationship didn’t end on an uplifting note, since Marissa DIES, but Ryan does get hooked up with that other chick (Autumn Reeser) and then somehow ends up being a cop on Southland. So that’s moderately uplifting.
I’ll stop now before dissecting this album with other shows. Actually, the press release says that Matt Barber recently completed a tour with his sister Jill in Australia. How awkard might that be? Does Jill give Matt a disapproving look every time Matt picks up five Aussie groupies to take back to the hotel? What about the other way around? Wouldn’t Matt feel obligated to punch every Aussie mate trying to show Jill ‘his knife’?
Okay I’ll stop now, but the albums good. Check it.
Tour dates:
May 12 New York, NY The Living Room
May 13 Brooklyn, NY Union Hall (opening for Jill Sobule)
May 14 Carrboro, NC Mill Town
May 15 Athens, GA Farm 255
