Songwriting comes from the soul.  Once you unleash it, I don’t think it ever really goes away.  Mat Kearney has had an incredible journey.  He’s toured around the world and has several gold records to hang on his wall.  Musically, it all started with his 2006 hit ‘Nothing Left To Lose’.  An album that paved the way for many singer-songwriter artists.

On his new album CRAZYTALK, Mat Kearney continues onward with stellar songwriting to go along with a collection of songs that feature some killer beats. Beats that range from EDM to House mixed with some great guitar driven rhythms.  Another thing that shines through on this album is the lyrical content.  He has a knack for telling stories in a monologue pace that really let’s you put yourself right inside of what he’s trying to say.

Mat also has something else that cannot be taught.  Tone.  His voice has such great tone that it’s almost hard to not get lost in it and lose your place in the story.

The first track ‘Better Than I used To Be’ sets the pace of the album.  And just like every song, the production is to be noted.  The music within the beat is it’s own piece to the ‘CRAZYTALK’ puzzle.

When ‘By Your Side’ started, it felt familiar but I didn’t know that Mat had covered a Sade song.  Once the chorus began, I was totally sucked in to the song.  He puts his spin on the song, but that same chill, super cool vibe that Sade just seems to bring to everything remained.

‘Changes’ has that “single” feel to it.  A chorus that you can sing along with in “everything changes..”  When I get to ‘Money’ I am very much into the beats on this album and then… I hear what sounds to be an 808 and a smooth vocal performance.

I talked a lot about the production and beats on this album but you know what?  My favorite song is the last track ‘Wanted Man’.  A very nice way to end the album with an acoustic guitar and Mat Kearney’s voice to go along with a cool story. He keeps it real with the story of him and his girl that has been with him since she was “riding shotgun in that Honda Accord”.

Don’t be fooled by the slick EDM surface here.  Mat has a lot to say on this album.  That hardest part for the listener will be trying to not get lost within the various elements inside.

7.9/10

Release date: 05/04/2018

TM