Burnt Out Soul
Full Bloom, 2020
8/10
A renaissance man who is not only a musician but an actor and filmmaker, too, the North Carolina resident Matt Walsh returns with his finest album to date, which was fleshed out at the legendary Columbia Records Studio A in Nashville, TN.
“Come Here No More” starts the album with rhythmic southern rock as a warm formula also invites dancing, and the title track follows with a calmer pace of pretty Americana, where piano makes an impression in a very memorable delivery.
At the halfway point, “My Next Move” recruits harmonica as a very stylish display of singer-songwriter prowess enter the cautious yet playful instrumentation, while “Leaving Blues” takes a nostalgic approach where precise percussion and keys guides a soulful setting. “Happy Or Blue?” exits the listen, and recruits meticulous electric guitar amid an almost classic rock like exit with the superb songwriting that has characterized Walsh’s career.
This is Walsh’s 4th solo full length in a lengthy, esteemed career that includes playing alongside Bob Margolin and Pinetop Perkins, among others. He also started The Low Counts with drummer Austin Hicks before his untimely passing, and has been solo ever since. Certainly a varied take on Americana, Burnt Out Soul is an impressive listen by an artist who should be on everyone’s radar.
Travels well with: Bob Margolin- This Guitar And Tonight; Rick Vito- Soulshaker