Mat Kearney - Nothing Left To Lose

Published Tuesday 12th September 2006
Mat Kearney - Nothing Left To Lose
Mat Kearney - Nothing Left To Lose

STYLE: Rock
RATING 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 18879-10167
LABEL: Inpop POD1380
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RELEASE DATE: 2006-06-01
RRP: £4.99

Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

This is, of course, the revised version of 2004's tremendous 'Bullet album with new tracks added, some taken away and the whole thing now pitched at the mainstream. With Kearney currently on tour with John Mayer and Sheryl Crow the push seems to be working. Kearney's overall style swings between the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Coldplay - at times his delivery is so similar to Chris Martin's that it is almost impossible to tell them apart especially in tracks such as "Crashing Down" and "In The Middle." Kearney employs a neat trick of alternating a sung delivery with slow rapping which works incredibly well and adds variety to the album. Although there is always an underlying spiritual content, there is no direct reference to Jesus. That being said, the final track "Won't Back Down" does point towards a higher power and is complete with a distant refrain of "hallelujah" at the end of the song. Kearney's real skills lie in painting a picture through his lyrics - in particular the spoken word sections - and a prime example of this occurs in "Renaissance" when he graphically details his experience of a car crash and, presumably, a spiritual encounter that took place at the same time. In fact, there is so much to take and interpret from each song that the lyrics featured in the inlay card could quite easily exist in their own right without the music. Musically, most tracks are either guitar or piano led and is again very much in the pounding Coldplay vein. Kearney does throw in the delightful Jack Johnson-tinged "Where We Gonna Go From Here" - complete with accordion, banjo and toy piano whilst "All I Need" features a string arrangement to suitably vary the bass, drums and guitar format. Whilst perhaps not the most musically original album, 'Nothing Left To Lose' is a thoroughly enjoyable offering from an artist clearly making headway.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Reader Comments

Posted by marconini in norway @ 00:04 on Mar 29 2007

I am impressed!
The man can sing and have lyrics and musical gifts at the same time.

I dont like the fact that if you lisening to christian rock music 90% is almost the same!

The same thing with pop and the hip hop`s blink 182/ toby mac style of music.

Its many good artist but its hard to find somthing "different"

Mat Kearney is different!

ps: could you help me finding a got internet sight that sells christian music to scandinavia for a god price?

thank`s for helping
god bless!



The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.

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