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MzMona's CD Review Roundup - I must say that I was extremely taken aback when I first played Matt Steels' new CD: Actually, I was in awe to be completely honest with all of my review readers out there. I would like to say this first before I start my review of Matt's' CD. He is not just "eye candy" ladies, he is the real deal, the entire package; there is nothing missing from this young mans' work; he is also the absolute best "ear candy" I have heard since "George Strait" burst on the Nashville scene so many years ago. So, sit back, and close your eyes folks, and get ready to take one of the sweetest rides you have taken in some time coming from the country music industry.
This is one CD all of you truly will want to go to your nearest music store outlet, and buy. If you can't find it in your local stores after this review, then by all means please visit Matt's' own website at: www.mattsteel.com, and trust me folks because, I have never led any of you wrong yet when it comes to the artists that I believe in so strongly. This particular CD is one that all of you will want to have in your own collection of country music favorites. I say favorites because, when you buy the CD, and you play it for the first time you will become a devoted fan of Matt Steel, the best singer to show up on the country horizon in a decade or, more.
What can I say about this CD that has been so professionally put together by a group of dedicated musicians, and a producer who knew exactly what has been missing from today's country music field. This CD is the perfect blend of where old meets new. Like good old classic country, Matt Steel's vocals grab you and depict a message that connects with you in the core. He is the modern storyteller of country music who has even been compared to classics such as Tom T Hall and Johnny Cash. Further, your foot will start tapping the minute you put on the CD, and it will make you feel good.
When we the average consumer buys a CD, we are really lucky if there are one or, two more songs on that CD we might actually like. However, this is not the case with Matt's CD. You will be very hard pressed to find one song on this project that doesn't belong on this CD, and you will love each song on it. In order for me to promote this CD to National Radio Airplay, I needed to select two songs from the CD to ask my national promoter to play back to back for me. Well, I am here to tell you that I have listened to this CD over, and over at least fifty times if not more, in the last ten weeks just trying to decide which two songs to send out for national airplay with my promoter. However, when you have a CD where you love every song on that CD, it really made my job very difficult indeed this time around. Each and every song on the CD stands on its own merit.
When you listen to such a catchy tune as "I Like Her, But She Don't Like Me", you cannot help but want to get up, and just start dancing wherever you are. The But Song, as I now so affectionately call it, is a fun loving, tongue and cheek song with the play on words that is perfectly and tactfully executed by Matt.
So, as I said; therein lies MzMona's dilemma; which song to back up my But Song? There are so many hit songs on that CD it is simply unfair to narrow it down to only two. Undoubtedly every listener will have their own favorites because of their own personal life experiences. But I am forced to select one, so I will have to go with his self-penned number ten track on the CD titled, "Getting Back To Me Again". This is probably the most positive, upbeat song that I have ever heard. When it comes to breakup songs, this is far cry from being a simple tear in your beer song. Matt digs way deeper and shows the inside of someone who is struggling to find themselves and get back to who they really are, after a recent breakup. The greatness of Matt's lyrics show up in each song that he wrote or co-wrote on his debut CD.
As I stated previously; Matt Steel truly is the real deal here. When a man can write such prolific lyrics that can reach down, and touch the listener in their very soul while listening to him sing is quite a feat in and of itself. I say that because, there are very few writers out today who can give so much in a three to four minute song with such conviction as this young man seems to have the insight to do. I am impressed with him just as a human being here, and not just as a singer/songwriter.
Matt has a gift of being positive with the material he writes because, "in my opinion only", I believe he is so in touch with what life is all about for him, that he may think that the rest of us must undoubtedly feel the same things he does. And, if I am right; then he has certainly hit the old proverbial nail on the head with a hammer. I believe he would be right in his assumptions that we all feel the same heartbreak, and have shed the same amount of tears as maybe he has, and we have all experienced those long sleepless nights that he too must have endured at one time or another in his life as well.
What I have heard throughout this "Work Of Art" for a lack of a better metaphor to use here concerning this project; is when you listen not only with your ears, but with your heart as well, that is what you too will deem this project to be. Because, I would like to reiterate here once more that this young man has left nothing out here. He has a quality to his vocals that is so infectious for the listener that you just want to keep playing his CD over, and over, and you will too just like I have. And, I know that this is due to the fact that Matt has written such beautiful lyrics, and put such great melodies to go with those lyrics that it is actually impossible for me to feel anything but upbeat, and say to the world; hey, it wasn't such a bad day after all.
Now, I don't know about any of you but, when you find an artist that makes you feel like your world just got a little bit brighter, and the load on your shoulders just got a little bit lighter due to a song that came straight from the heart of the singer insomuch that he was able to make the sorrowful woes of my day just disappear, then I know I am listening to one of the best singer/songwriters to come out of the shoot in a decade at least.
When you hear Matt sing from his heart as he does on each song of his CD; he takes you with him on that musical journey that he has already taken in his heart, and mind, and probably his own soul. One would assume that he has truly gone through almost everything a human being would have had to endure, in order to write such heart rendering songs like he has written for this project here. I felt like I was the one living each word he wrote because, I thought to myself, how on earth did he know that I too have lived every word he just sang?
I also thought when I heard him sing the number three track on the CD titled; "I Just Love What She Did", my gosh, where did such wisdom come from one as young as this? When he wrote this song, I kept thinking he must have an endless well to draw from in order to put into words what so many of us wish we could say at certain times in our lives. For in that song is great wisdom when a man knows exactly what to say to his loved one who was feeling insecure about his "ex". In fact, you pick up on the underlying message very quickly that he is very grateful to the ex for leaving him, which in turn allowed him to find her, the one he was meant to be with all along. This is one singer who makes you feel every single word he is saying is nothing but the absolute truth, and it is coming from the very depths of his soul when he sings it.
And yet, he can take you all the way to Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee when he sings the very bluesy number six track on the CD titled; "I've Still Got It Bad For You". This is a song where this young man really shines on his vocals. I was greatly impressed how these songs all seemed to flow together so well. I later found out after speaking with Matt and his producer, Peter Carson, that everything flows so well because there was only one producer and a hand full of musicians. So many times today CD's have multiple producers and ton of musicians on their projects. In the case of Matt Steel, you get the real Matt Steel, because there are not too many cooks in the kitchen spoiling the meal, as the old adage goes.
I do believe beyond the shadow of any doubt that Matt Steel has staying power in this music industry, and once you all get the opportunity to hear him sing you will know this to be true. He isn't a here today and gone tomorrow kind of singer/songwriter. Matt is going to burn down the radio towers with the smoke he is going to leave in his wake when he does hit the airwaves with his first single release.
I personally believe his first number one single will be the number three track off of his CD titled: " I Just Love What She Did", if his record label that he chooses to go with is wise enough to listen to the populace as a whole out here, they will find that song has as much if not more crossover value than the other incredible songs on his CD. I also honestly believe that given the opportunity and airplay that Matt Steel has about 4 number one songs on his debut CD. I would hate to be the A&R team that has to pick which song to release first because there isn't one bad song on this CD.
So, I think all of you will run into the same problem that I ran into when you buy this CD. You will not be able to decide which one you truly do like the best because, Matt couldn't sing a song badly even if he tried to. You all know that I have never led any of you wrong when it comes to telling you whether an artist is worth your time to go, and see them perform live, or if they are worth you spending your hard earned money on their CD's. So, I do hope you will all listen to me this time too, and do yourselves a favor, go buy this young mans' CD, and listen to the best ear candy you are going to hear for a long time to come. Trust me folks this is one CD review you will all be thanking me for as soon as you have had the chance to listen to this very talented man sing.
I have had the opportunity to do so many reviews but, I have to tell all of you that I have never enjoyed doing one more than this one because, Matt Steel truly is the real deal in the country music field today, and his CD is just as good if not better than many being played on the radio stations today. So, when he hits National Radio Airplay, and you will be hearing him coming at you from your own radio stations across everywhere USA, you folks can say you heard it here first, and now we can all share in the wonderful talent better known in St. Louis, MO. as Mr. Matt Steel. I am sure he will pick up the nickname; "Man Of Steel" if he hasn't already. Well, this Matt Steel is going to be a very hard one to beat, and I would just like to put Nashville on notice as of now, that way when the "Man Of Steel" comes to your town, just remember that he is a "Force To Be Reckoned With".
Please leave all of your comments with kudos after you have gone to Matt's page, and take a listen for yourselves to this awesome young and very gifted singer.
Thank you, until my next review:
MzMona
CD Reviewed by Ramona Payne/RSP Promotions
Entertainment Journalist/Booking Agent
CD Reviews/Artists Interviews
Featured Artist Reviewed: Matt Steel
Name of CD being reviewed is: Self Titled: Matt Steel
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