Review Summary: Matt Costa, much like Jack Johnson and Donavon Frankenreiter, rightfully belongs on Brushfire Records. With a very relaxing, refreshing sound, mixed in with some bouncy, happy sing-alongs, Costa does a very good job at keeping up with his affiliates in Ja
Brushfire Records have been producing and making artists knows for most of the twenty-first century. Artists like G. Love, Donavon Frankenreiter, Money Mark, Animal Liberation Orchestra, and Jack Johnson; not to mention the dozens of artists that appear on Jack Johnson's surf movie soundtracks. Among these artists is also Matt Costa.
Most of Matt Costa's fans know him courtesy of Jack Johnson and Brushfire Records. Matt Costa appeared as an opening artist for Jack Johnson on his summer tour 2005. On that tour, he promoted his debut record, "Songs We Sing," while also picking up quite a following of fans. "Songs We Sing" is an album very similar to Jack Johnson and Donavon Frankenreiter in genre and style, but Matt Costa is also very musically educated and talented. His use of electric guitar (distorted and clean), acoustic guitar (12 string in some cases), piano, harmonica, percussion, and various other instruments make this album very listenable and very likable.
COLD DECEMBER- Costa opens the album with "Cold December." This song starts with an acoustic guitar repeating a chord progression rather quickly. His vocals then enter as well as electric guitar and percussion. This song remains catchy through the verses and chorus and then enters into a breakdown with a prevalent snare drum and electric guitar. This song is pretty solid the whole way through. 4.5/5
ASTAIR- This song is arguably the best song on the album. Through most of the song, it is just a finger-picked guitar part with him singing. Later, strings enter as well as the constant tapping of a high-hat in the background. This is probably the most well done song on the whole album. 5/5
SWEET THURSDAY- This song isn't the greatest song on the album, we'll just say that. The intro to the song is acoustic power chords which lead into a distorted electric guitar with acoustic backing it up. Acoustic and electric guitars rarely sound good when placed over one another. The vocals and the bass are the high points of this song, but overall, it's an average song. 3.5/5
SUNSHINE- This song is very similar to "Astair" only more upbeat and sing-along-ish. It's acoustic guitar with Matt Costa singing. There are also some backing vocals that make the chorus sound as good as it could get. This song is pretty solid just like Astair and Cold December; one of the best on the album. 5/5
THESE ARMS- For this song, Costa attempted more of a slow ballad. Piano is used for the main instrument. The verses are o.k. but nothing special. The chorus is the high point of the song. Percussion is very well-done in this song, but other than that, it's not too wonderful. The vocals get a bit shaky during the bridge and there is also some distorted electric guitar in the background. It's a good song, just not among the best on the album. 4/5
BALLAD OF MISS KATE- The song opens with a rather slow acoustic guitar part that picks up quickly and leads into one of the most "dramatic" songs on the album. The constant hitting of the bass drum on every count enhances the urgency of the song. The vocals are very well done and so is the guitar. Remember when I said that electric and acoustic guitar don't go very well together, well this song is an exception. This is a very well-done song. 5/5
SWEET ROSE- The opening to this song reminds me a lot of "Act Naturally" by The Beatles. This is one of those more country-feeling songs with a happy and very catchy chorus. The song is one of the easiest and most enjoyable songs to sing along to. The guitar work on this song is exceptional. This is one of the best on the album. 4.5/5
SONGS WE SING- Song opens with a harmonica playing a rather annoying melody. This harmonica solicits the song very well. The song definitely isn't one of the high points of the song. He uses a lot of different instruments in this song which kind of take away from the feel of the song. There are a lot of different percussion instruments used which almost make the song sound cheesy. 3/5
YELLOW TAXI- The thing that strikes me the most about this song is the piano, which is odd because the piano is just back-up in this song, but it sounds really well. It follows the same melody as the vocals, which is sort of a bouncy, happy melody. The acoustic guitar is also very well done in this song. It’s mainly the same chord progression the whole way through, but it all flows together to make a pretty solid song. 4/5
I TRIED- The acoustic guitars in this song (there are two parts played over each other) are the highlight. This song sounds a lot like “Yellow Taxi.” It has piano following the vocal melody and no percussion. This song isn’t bad, but nothing too special. 3.5/5
BEHIND THE MOON- This song, if not the best song on the album, is definitely in the top two or three. It has the same rhythm as “Ballad of Miss Kate,” which explains why it shines through as one of the best on the album. It has the bass drum on every count, but not as heavily as “Ballad of Miss Kate.” The acoustic guitar is more prevalent in this song. The chords are heavily stroked which enhances the feel of urgency. The bass is also very heavy in this song. Towards the end of the song, there is an acoustic/electric guitar harmony that sounds a lot like Elliott Smith. Elliott Smith = great, and this song = great. 5/5
OH DEAR- This is one of the less serious songs on the album. It’s much like “Sweet Rose.” The snare drum is one of the most recognizable aspects of this song. It plays a lot of rolls and jumpy beats that sound like it could be a march in a Winnie the Pooh soundtrack or something. This song is just a short little tune. It’s not bad. 4/5
WASH AWAY- This is easily among the best songs on the album. The instruments flow together very well. Triplet notes played on a clean electric guitar make up most of the guitar work. There are some acoustic parts which are very well done also. He also uses a string arrangement of violin, viola, and cello which make this song sound like it couldn’t possibly be any better. At the end, the vocals repeat the words “wash away” and his voice fades into the music, or gets “washed away” in a sense. This song sounds and feels a lot like rainfall and the beauty that comes after rainfall. 5/5
This album is very well done with the exception of one or two songs. I even listen to those one or two though when I’m listening to the album. If you like Jack Johnson or Donavon Frankenreiter, chances are you’ll like this album. If you like what I’ve said about it, go pick it up.
