Matt Anderson’s Honest Soul
Grant Britt
Posted On March 7, 2016
Listening to Matt Anderson is like hearing from an old friend. His music is comforting, soothing, a mellow greeting that feeds your soul and uplifts your heart.
Anderson has been at it for awhile, starting his career with ’02’s One Size Never Fits. A native of the Canadian Maritime province of New Brunswick, Anderson pulled off a feat no Canadian ever has, winning the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis in the best duo/individual category.
Even though Anderson has a bucketload of awards for blues, he’s just as much a soul man. For his latest, Honest Man, there’s a touch of gospel in his vocals as well as in some of the lyrics.
“Gift Of Life” is an uplifting, soulful hymn, Anderson slipping around octaves in praise of believing in yourself and using the force that got you here for something of value: “Believe that you are special/believe you’ve got a gift/ the gift of life is all you’ll need.” That sentiment might sound trivial in some mouths, but Anderson transcends that. You believe he believes it and therefore you do too.
The title cut sounds like it came out of Memphis in the seventies Hi studios era, with Al Green producer Willie Mitchell’s horn-heavy, gospel-drenched soul wearing funk overshoes stomping around righteously.
Anderson slips into country with “Quiet Company,” but takes his mellow soul along with him. Anderson has a gift for understatement in his vocals and melodies, a soft sell that makes the tune and the sentiment behind it linger long afterward.
He really pulls off a coup on “Lets Get Back,” blending soul and Southern rock with a mellow reggae beat with the chop provided by banjo. Its a surreal mashup of scraps of Jimmy Cliff’s “Sitting Here In Limbo” with the Allman’s “Midnight Rider,” and just to make sure your mind is completely blown, tossing in a Fred Wesley style ‘bone solo in the middle.
“Who Are You Listening To” is another bizarre mashup, like The Who with Bachman Turner Overdrive, crunchy rock made for prancing and bottle smashing.
In addition to his impressive vocal skills, Anderson’s songwriting talents grab you by the throat as well. He proudly displays his road dawg creds on “One Good Song,” vowing “I’ll Take Christmas Alone in Australia/I’ll take ‘Hi, how are you’ on the phone/ I’ll take any road/ I won’t ever go home/ Just give me one good song.”
Anderson has done that here repeatedly. The hard part is waiting for him to do it again- and soon.
