Seat 1A: Music Reviews

Were were good, if not extremely close, friends through middle school, high school, and college -- tied together by our being the only Lutheran kids in our Mormon-dominated primary education system.
We've lost touch through the years, but Matt's gone on to become . He was already competing (and winning) at as a banjo player when we were in junior high, and around high school he started playing (and winning) on the smaller instrument.

I recently discovered his three albums on iTunes, and they're all fantastic: , , and .
Matt's also the composer, and he's brought an interesting style to his music. It's more jazz than anything else, usually performed with some combination of fiddle, banjo, bass, and guitar.

There are elements of country, rock, celtic, and bluegrass, but it's primarily an elegant, sometimes haunting, jazz fusion. This is most true on the quartet album, Walking on the Moon. I'm listening to it now, and it's spectacular.

I've not yet been able to connect with Matt to share my affection for his work, but will. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and check it out.
SOME NEW MUSIC in the collection, all of which I recommend (follow the links for more info and samples at Amazon):

• : A band from Madagascar.

  The authentic version of the African sound Paul Simon has tried to invoke, but the real deal and leagues better. It's called Malagsy and it will brighten any day.

• : How did I ever miss this?

  From the primordial 1968 R B soup from whence heavy metal came, Beck's riffs and Rod Stewart's vocals haunt, and Morning Dew may be one of the greatest, and least-known, rock songs of the era. Includes covers of Ol' Man River and You Shook Me. Essential.

• : While in London I walked into an FMV store not realizing it would be full of discs I'd consider imports in the U.S. The first I grabbed was this UK cut of the gig The Who played at RAH to finish the 2000 tour.

  I saw them in Philly that year and was stunned by their vigor -- especially Townshend who, frankly, played like the angry young man he was in 1969. Three discs, appearances by Bryan Adams, Eddie Vedder and others, and worth every pence.

• : My eyes popped when I saw this CD.

  The classic Who's Next with a full digital remaster, a previously unreleased studio session from the same year, and a complete, live, invitation-only performance at the Young Vic Theater in London from April 26th, 1971. All together this release covers much of Townshend's never-finished magnum opus, and it's a great addition to the collection. Frankly, the Young Vic gig is worth the price by itself: It's raw, the band is trying out new tunes, and Pete banters often with the crowd, even announcing his passage into fatherhood.

  Great stuff.

• : I supposed you can guess in what section of FMV I was standing. Scooped is a two-disc collection of Townshend demos - the first takes at many tunes he or The Who later recorded (including Pinball Wizard, Behind Blue Eyes, Love Reign O'er Me, Magic Bus .

  .. you get the idea), often laid down by him simply plugging his guitar into a reel-to-reel machine in his living room, at his home studio, or for one track, in the living room of his wife's friend's house.

  Thirty-five tracks in all, and a remarkable historical perspective on the work of Townshend and The Who.