Nobody Cries Today
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
Yet another rising artist from Nashville, Matt Lovell brings 9 tunes to this debut album, where personal themes come from his stunning tenor as his folk based template takes influence from plenty of other genres, too.
Lovell starts the listen with the acoustic guitar friendly setting of “Trouble”, where his expressive and melodic singing also embraces strategic keys in an opener you could dance to, and “90 Proof” follows with a calmer pace of soulful singer-songwriter prowess that radiates warmth and timelessness.
Closer to the middle, “Be Free” is a stylish delivery of rhythmic and bare song craft that’s both moving and stirring, while “Nobody Cries Today” recruits R&B influences as Lovell’s versatile pipes soar amid soothing backing vocals that almost get gospel.
Near the end, “The Gospel” moves fluidly as mood is key in the somewhat haunting landscape, and “The Way That It Was” exits the with no shortage of sublime beauty as more emphasis on percussion complements the exceptional finish to a very thoughtful record.
All but one of these tunes was penned in 2016, just before Lovell nearly died after being shot in the chest by someone stealing his car. This incident gave him a new appreciation for life and how to handle it, but also came with some PTSD to be sorted through. Thankfully, Lovell has taken this experience and channeled it into a heartfelt, eloquent and emotive execution of song craft that makes for a first rate listen.
Travels well with: Matt Walsh- Burnt Out Soul; Chris Smither- More From The Levee