Matt Costa - Mobile Chateau

Rating

single star

RIYL

Grizzly Bear
Fleet Foxes
Arcade Fire

Release Date

09/21/2010

Label

Brushfire Records

Tracklist

01. The Season
02. Johnny's Love Of Majik
03. Drive
04. Mobile Chateau
05. Can You Tell Me
06. Idol
07. Witchcraft
08. Painted Face
09. Bleeding Hearts
10. Secret
11. Strings Of Change
12. Next Time

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Matt Costa popped up on my radar around the time that “Mr. Pitiful” song came on the airwaves. I must admit I liked the tune and was interested to see what else this guy could come up with. So I downloaded his album, Unfamiliar Faces, and it was filled with west coast pop. It was not bad, but it also was far from great. Costa’s newest album is another release on Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records and entitled Mobile Chateau. Note that this record is a distinct, harsh step away from his earlier sound. The record is dripping with reverb and 60s folk/psychedelic sounds, but it does not really hold much weight amidst a flood of whitewash and dreary tunes.

This was Costa’s first hand at production and this reviewer would advise it be his last. I never thought a record could sound so indie. Yeah, there are a few songs that are not bad that seemed interesting on the surface, but they also essentially put me to sleep. There are those out there that are able to make records that create a cavernous sound with the little acoustic guitar fitting in there somewhere. For example, Fleet Foxes, though not my favorite band, is able to create this folk /psychedelic sound without cliché lyrics or droning thick reverb.

Costa is at his strongest when his lyrics and folk tunes don’t feel forced. He wanted to make a 60s sounding record, but in doing so he lost any sort of originality or emotion. Amongst the poppy piano and fab four type choruses is a lack of charisma. Essentially every song bleeds into the next one.

I assume some people will dig the hell out of this album, and to those people I say,  "Good for you." For me, however, I got bored rather fast and found myself lost in the reverb.

--Corey Mack

Author

pantsmeetshit
Last updated: 08/23/2010 06:22AM

Comments

powell.ad
08/23/2010
03:43PM
Age: 22
Location
Sunshine Coast, Australia

check out his first album, 'songs we sing'. Unfamiliar Faces didn't do a lot for me, but I'm still keen to check this one out. 

"If you want something done right, get a fucking Australian band to do it" - Chris Cheney

pantsmeetshit
08/23/2010
03:59PM
Age: 26
Location
Los Angeles

Will do Sandy, I'll have to check out his earlier stuff.