MATT PRYOR
May Day
(Nightshoes Syndicate)
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Best known as frontman for the legendary rock n’ roll outfit THE GET UP KIDS, MATT PRYOR solo is a much more sparse version of his full band work, relying heavily on acoustic templates to illustrate his personal musings and always creative songwriting. Similar in structure and style to his first solo disc CONFIDENCE MAN in 2008, PRYOR does add a larger variety of instruments here (piano, harmonica, banjo, tambourines and homemade drum loop via cardboard boxes), and has more a raw feel recording wise. Shunning all studio trickery, PRYOR recorded this in his home studio, often just hitting record and playing the song in its entirety, giving the songs an inherent spontaneity.
While there are plenty of indie rock frontmen channeling their inner NEIL YOUNG these days, but few are doing it as well as PRYOR. If you’re intrigued with what luminaries like CHUCK RAGAN or TIM BARRY are doing these days, this will be a nice addition to your collection. (Tom Haugen)
From the first few lines in the opening track “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down,” it’s clear that Matthew Pryor, best known as front man for THE GET UP KIDS, hasn’t lost his charming choice of diction and his predisposition toward introspective exploration. PRYOR often turns the spotlight on himself, a tactic woven into a pattern of music employing mostly just an acoustic guitar and, on occasion, a much- welcomed harmonica. May Day is PRYOR’S second solo effort and easily his strongest. His voice has always been synonymous with the original “emo” movement, back when TGUK were occupying the top of the heap. Now, his voice lends itself effortlessly to this laid back folk feel that May Day evokes on tracks such as “Unhappy is the Only Happy That You’ll Ever Be” and “I Was A Witness.” PRYOR creates stories with his words and landscapes with his melodies. One can help but drift into reverie while listening. There’s a tenderness, almost a weakness, in his voice that proves it was meant for this type of heart on your sleeve music. (Jameson Ketchum)
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