Scott Matthew Gallantry’s Favorite Son
If you’re searching for a break from the typical, radio-bred album then give Scott Matthew’s Gallantry’s Favorite Son a listen. It tells a dark, melancholy story of a man and his ruminations on vulnerability, love, and the struggle of letting go and moving on. The album’s tone is perfected by the combination of simple instrumental arrangements and Scott Matthew’s unique voice that is reminiscent of Ray LaMontagne’s tone and David Bowie’s vibrato.
Matthew metaphorically expresses his fears of moving on and the vulnerability and uncertainty which it brings in his opening and theme-defining track, “Blackbird,” with its lyric “I don’t want to learn to fly – that would mean I’d say goodbye.”
He progresses in the track “True Sting” towards acceptance – a crucial step in healing – by allowing himself to be vulnerable and able “to feel the true sting to let go.”
Eventually, Matthew appears to conquer his fears and past to let go in order to move on, evident in the eighth track, “The Wonder of Falling Love.” This sullen album has only rare moments of optimism and hope, and this concluding, though not final, track is one of them. He imagines the other side of love, not just its vulnerability but its beauty and wonder, as he hopes for this “dream [to] come true,” for another opportunity to experience “the wonder of falling in love.”
This might not be the album to pierce through the radio speakers or jump out of your headphones, but it is one that surely grows on you with each careful listen. Make sure you check out Scott Matthew at http://www.scottmatthewmusic.com/ .
Review by Caroline Wuertz
