CD REVIEW: Matty James – Last One To Die

CD REVIEW: Matty James – Last One To Die
Pirate Heart Records
2014
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
8.5/10

Matty James isn’t exactly a cheery soul, but he can certainly pen an enjoyable tune to accompany his tales of burnouts and breakdowns and loss.

James’s deep vocals bring emotional weight to his songs, all the backing tracks to which he performed himself. Guests lend a hand, such as Johnny Danger, Roisin Burns, Kevin McHugh and Tyla J Pallas – the latter ‘s solo ouevre is seemingly James’s starting point, so the former Dogs D’Amour leader’s appearance makes abundant sense.

There’s the cowboy blues of opener Leaving, through the more mournful singer songwriter yearning of Don’t Turn Your Light Out On Me, and Never Learn features Burns’ sparse but perfect backing vocals providing counterpoint to James’ guitar.

Same Old Me (Brand New You) goes electric in a Dogs D ‘Amour kind of way, which is always welcome, before Last One To Die, featuring the bulletproof Poet Tyla
himself playing slide and on backing vocals. The shadow of The Dogs hangs over the whole record (in a good way), and on the downward slide By The Cold Light Of Night is a fireplace folkie, while Better Days shows James can see some upbeat optimism through the gloom.

The album closes with the plaintive harmonica wail that punctuates This One’s For… a song with a great, simple sing-along chorus, helping to end the record on a high note. Despite the dour outlook of much of Last One To Die, the album has a strangely uplifting effect, and implies a long career ahead for Mr James.

Category: CD Reviews