Albums : Matt Nathanson : Last Of The Great Pretenders
Albums : Matt Nathanson : Last Of The Great Pretenders
Listen To Matt Nathanson : Last Of The Great Pretenders
Who Is Matt Nathanson?
Matt Nathanson (born March 28, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter whose work is a blend of folk and rock music. In addition to singing, he plays acoustic (sometimes a 12-string) and electric guitar, and has played both solo and with a full band. His work includes the platinum-selling song "Come On Get Higher".
Nathanson was raised in Lexington, Massachusetts. His father is Jewish and his mother is Catholic. Nathanson attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California (majoring in English and world literature). Matt attended Tony Fessenden School with his brother Neal, in West Newton, MA prior to going to high school. Despite living close by in Lexington, the two boarded during the week, before going home.
The members of his band have included Aben Eubanks on guitar, keys and vocals, later replaced by Aaron Tap. John Thomasson began as bassist in 2004. Thomasson left in 2009 to play bass for Little Big Town and continues to play for them today. Jason McKenzie was on drums until Fall 2006; Nick Amoroso on two tours from Fall 2007 through Winter 2008. Konrad Meissner is the drummer. Before 2005, Nathanson was often accompanied by cellist Matt Fish.
His album Some Mad Hope was released on August 14, 2007. The song "All We Are" was featured on the television series NCIS in the fifth season episode "Family," the first season Private Practice episode "In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole," the One Tree Hill episodes "My Way Home is Through You" and "Forever and Almost Always". He was also featured on Women's Murder Club.
The ABC show Big Shots featured his song "Come On Get Higher," and the song "I Saw" was featured on Scrubs in the sixth season episode "My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby." Nathanson's song "Little Victories" was used on the Season 7 episode of Scrubs, "My Dumb Luck." On January 30, 2008, Nathanson and his band performed "Car Crash" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. His song "Sooner Surrender" was used on the May 28, 2008 episode of Men in Trees, "New Dog, Old Tricks". Nathanson and his band performed "Come On Get Higher" on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on December 22, 2008. The CW show The Vampire Diaries featured his song "All We Are" in the first season episode, "Family Ties" and Life Unexpected in second season episode titled "Parents Unemployed". The song was also on the fifth season episode ("Family", episode 2) of the CBS show "NCIS" His song "Bulletproof Weeks" appeared in the episode "Another Second Chance" of the TV series Private Practice on January 14, 2010.
On February 13, 2009, Nathanson and his band performed "Come On Get Higher" on the Late Show with David Letterman. On March 3, 2009, he performed on Ellen, singing "Come On Get Higher".
In March 2009, Nathanson was the special guest for Episode 17 of "Live From Daryl's House", Daryl Hall's monthly Internet concert. They, along with Hall's house band, performed (among other songs) "Car Crash", "Come On Get Higher", "Still" and "All We Are", as well as Hall & Oates classics "Did It in a Minute" and "One on One". Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher" is featured on the CD "Circle of Friends - Dave FM: Volume 2," an Atlanta based radio station.
Matt Nathanson recently appeared on the hit show The Bachelor (U.S. TV series) (season 16), where he serenaded bachelor Ben Flajnik and runner-up Lindzi Cox with his hit "Faster".
"Kiss quick" was featured on One Tree Hill season 8 episode 22. (Read More)
Last Of The Great Pretenders Review
“The only one that’s left to trust / My faithless heart wasted us…” Wow. To describe the highlighted lyric as merely poetic would an understatement. Matt Nathanson possesses the wonderful gift to compose songs that are thoughtfully conceived, in the singer/songwriter vein. Not only can Nathanson pen ‘em, he can also sing them with great passion and nuance. On his 2013 effort, Last of the Great Pretenders, Nathanson delivers a set of 11 songs that soundly represent his musical talents. Tightly assembled at under 40 minutes, Last of the Great Pretenders is no ‘pretender’ itself, easily captivating.
“Earthquake Weather” creates a quite a favorable first impression, establishing a head-nodding, piano-ostinato fueled groove. Setting the tone compellingly, “Earthquake Weather” eschews the ‘middle of the road’ trap. Over the course of his vocal performance, Nathanson radiates with personality, whether it’s the emphasis he places on certain melodic lines or the infectious jubilance on the recurring, soulful “wo oh oh!” Single “Mission Bells” continues to propel the momentum, with dusty, soulful drums coupled with some sweet flashes of falsetto. Affected by a dream of his lover’s death, Nathanson wishes to share his dedication to his lover, inquiring “What kind of man misunderstands a woman like you” and “What kind of fool thinks love’s a prison or a handicap?” Where many may come off as schmaltzy, Nathanson delivers his Hitchcock, ‘love story via street fight’ convincingly.
“Last Days of Summer in San Francisco” finds Nathanson singing in his lower register initially, before ascending into his more triumphant mid/upper register. Crafted narratively, Nathanson illustrates an ‘exhausted’ summer (“We spent July in a Berkley basement / Half read books and bold declarations”), summed up by its chorus (”...we’ll fade out to whispers / It’s the last days of summer in San Francisco”). Of the opening trio, “Last Days” would most warrant a middlesome label. However, I think it manages to escape unscathed… for the most part.
The contrasts of a quicker tempo and lightheartedness is welcomed on “Kinks Shirt”, in which Nathanson’s digging on “...that girl in the Kinks shirt”. After revealing his infatuation of her every move, he then trades his inner hipster for more sensitive-mindedness via “Sky High Honey”. Restrained without a feeling lethargic, Nathanson sounds incredibly sincere. He continues to exhibit differing facets of himself musically, hitting the jackpot on the rocking “Annie’s Always Waiting (For the Next One to Leave)”. Flexing his adventuresome, rockstar muscles, Nathanson boasts, “Annie’s always waiting for the next one to leave… she’s always on time for me.” As much as “Annie’s Always Waiting” benefits from its levity, it equally benefits from its orderliness as far as its form.
“Kill the Lights” continues to present Last of the Great Pretendersas the ‘gift that keeps on giving’, even being more predictable than its predecessors. “Heart Starts” atones for any miscues, providing the singer with a well suited folk-pop backdrop intact with acoustic guitar. The enthusiasm translates onto “Birthday Girl”, though it’s less impressive. Penultimate track “Sunday New York Times” slackens the tempo, with Nathanson blaming himself for the failings of a relationship (“You were the saint, and I was the liar…”) and later reasoning “… Sometimes you’re still mine, between the lines of the Sunday New York Times”. “Farewell December” closes solidly, but lacks the same punch that was showcased by the front of the album.
When all is said and done, Last of the Great Pretenders is a well assembled, enjoyable album. Even when the material is slightly less ear-catching, Nathanson remains in good voice, always delivering. Ultimately, Last of the Great Pretenders has no glaring missteps and is a welcome addition to his discography.
Contact Matt Nathanson
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | YouTube | Soundcloud | Email
Contact PopMatters
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Sources : Matt Nathanson Photo | Listen To Last Of The Great Pretenders | Matt Nathanson Biography | Last Of The Great Pretenders Review
Purchase : iTunes | Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy
Listen To Matt Nathanson : Last Of The Great Pretenders
Who Is Matt Nathanson?
Matt Nathanson (born March 28, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter whose work is a blend of folk and rock music. In addition to singing, he plays acoustic (sometimes a 12-string) and electric guitar, and has played both solo and with a full band. His work includes the platinum-selling song "Come On Get Higher".
Nathanson was raised in Lexington, Massachusetts. His father is Jewish and his mother is Catholic. Nathanson attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California (majoring in English and world literature). Matt attended Tony Fessenden School with his brother Neal, in West Newton, MA prior to going to high school. Despite living close by in Lexington, the two boarded during the week, before going home.
The members of his band have included Aben Eubanks on guitar, keys and vocals, later replaced by Aaron Tap. John Thomasson began as bassist in 2004. Thomasson left in 2009 to play bass for Little Big Town and continues to play for them today. Jason McKenzie was on drums until Fall 2006; Nick Amoroso on two tours from Fall 2007 through Winter 2008. Konrad Meissner is the drummer. Before 2005, Nathanson was often accompanied by cellist Matt Fish.
His album Some Mad Hope was released on August 14, 2007. The song "All We Are" was featured on the television series NCIS in the fifth season episode "Family," the first season Private Practice episode "In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole," the One Tree Hill episodes "My Way Home is Through You" and "Forever and Almost Always". He was also featured on Women's Murder Club.
The ABC show Big Shots featured his song "Come On Get Higher," and the song "I Saw" was featured on Scrubs in the sixth season episode "My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby." Nathanson's song "Little Victories" was used on the Season 7 episode of Scrubs, "My Dumb Luck." On January 30, 2008, Nathanson and his band performed "Car Crash" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. His song "Sooner Surrender" was used on the May 28, 2008 episode of Men in Trees, "New Dog, Old Tricks". Nathanson and his band performed "Come On Get Higher" on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on December 22, 2008. The CW show The Vampire Diaries featured his song "All We Are" in the first season episode, "Family Ties" and Life Unexpected in second season episode titled "Parents Unemployed". The song was also on the fifth season episode ("Family", episode 2) of the CBS show "NCIS" His song "Bulletproof Weeks" appeared in the episode "Another Second Chance" of the TV series Private Practice on January 14, 2010.
On February 13, 2009, Nathanson and his band performed "Come On Get Higher" on the Late Show with David Letterman. On March 3, 2009, he performed on Ellen, singing "Come On Get Higher".
In March 2009, Nathanson was the special guest for Episode 17 of "Live From Daryl's House", Daryl Hall's monthly Internet concert. They, along with Hall's house band, performed (among other songs) "Car Crash", "Come On Get Higher", "Still" and "All We Are", as well as Hall & Oates classics "Did It in a Minute" and "One on One". Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher" is featured on the CD "Circle of Friends - Dave FM: Volume 2," an Atlanta based radio station.
Matt Nathanson recently appeared on the hit show The Bachelor (U.S. TV series) (season 16), where he serenaded bachelor Ben Flajnik and runner-up Lindzi Cox with his hit "Faster".
"Kiss quick" was featured on One Tree Hill season 8 episode 22. (Read More)
Last Of The Great Pretenders Review
“The only one that’s left to trust / My faithless heart wasted us…” Wow. To describe the highlighted lyric as merely poetic would an understatement. Matt Nathanson possesses the wonderful gift to compose songs that are thoughtfully conceived, in the singer/songwriter vein. Not only can Nathanson pen ‘em, he can also sing them with great passion and nuance. On his 2013 effort, Last of the Great Pretenders, Nathanson delivers a set of 11 songs that soundly represent his musical talents. Tightly assembled at under 40 minutes, Last of the Great Pretenders is no ‘pretender’ itself, easily captivating.
“Earthquake Weather” creates a quite a favorable first impression, establishing a head-nodding, piano-ostinato fueled groove. Setting the tone compellingly, “Earthquake Weather” eschews the ‘middle of the road’ trap. Over the course of his vocal performance, Nathanson radiates with personality, whether it’s the emphasis he places on certain melodic lines or the infectious jubilance on the recurring, soulful “wo oh oh!” Single “Mission Bells” continues to propel the momentum, with dusty, soulful drums coupled with some sweet flashes of falsetto. Affected by a dream of his lover’s death, Nathanson wishes to share his dedication to his lover, inquiring “What kind of man misunderstands a woman like you” and “What kind of fool thinks love’s a prison or a handicap?” Where many may come off as schmaltzy, Nathanson delivers his Hitchcock, ‘love story via street fight’ convincingly.
“Last Days of Summer in San Francisco” finds Nathanson singing in his lower register initially, before ascending into his more triumphant mid/upper register. Crafted narratively, Nathanson illustrates an ‘exhausted’ summer (“We spent July in a Berkley basement / Half read books and bold declarations”), summed up by its chorus (”...we’ll fade out to whispers / It’s the last days of summer in San Francisco”). Of the opening trio, “Last Days” would most warrant a middlesome label. However, I think it manages to escape unscathed… for the most part.
The contrasts of a quicker tempo and lightheartedness is welcomed on “Kinks Shirt”, in which Nathanson’s digging on “...that girl in the Kinks shirt”. After revealing his infatuation of her every move, he then trades his inner hipster for more sensitive-mindedness via “Sky High Honey”. Restrained without a feeling lethargic, Nathanson sounds incredibly sincere. He continues to exhibit differing facets of himself musically, hitting the jackpot on the rocking “Annie’s Always Waiting (For the Next One to Leave)”. Flexing his adventuresome, rockstar muscles, Nathanson boasts, “Annie’s always waiting for the next one to leave… she’s always on time for me.” As much as “Annie’s Always Waiting” benefits from its levity, it equally benefits from its orderliness as far as its form.
“Kill the Lights” continues to present Last of the Great Pretendersas the ‘gift that keeps on giving’, even being more predictable than its predecessors. “Heart Starts” atones for any miscues, providing the singer with a well suited folk-pop backdrop intact with acoustic guitar. The enthusiasm translates onto “Birthday Girl”, though it’s less impressive. Penultimate track “Sunday New York Times” slackens the tempo, with Nathanson blaming himself for the failings of a relationship (“You were the saint, and I was the liar…”) and later reasoning “… Sometimes you’re still mine, between the lines of the Sunday New York Times”. “Farewell December” closes solidly, but lacks the same punch that was showcased by the front of the album.
When all is said and done, Last of the Great Pretenders is a well assembled, enjoyable album. Even when the material is slightly less ear-catching, Nathanson remains in good voice, always delivering. Ultimately, Last of the Great Pretenders has no glaring missteps and is a welcome addition to his discography.
Contact Matt Nathanson
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | YouTube | Soundcloud | Email
Contact PopMatters
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Email
Sources : Matt Nathanson Photo | Listen To Last Of The Great Pretenders | Matt Nathanson Biography | Last Of The Great Pretenders Review
Purchase : iTunes | Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy
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