The Observer, September 22, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 4
Kearney possesses "undeniable" voice, lyrics
Many artists in today's competitive music industry make feeble attempts to combine various genres in order to sound original. These artists usually fail miserably due to an overloaded sound.
Mat Kearney is not one of these artists. Deftly mixing rock, pop, alternative folk, and even adding a dash of hip-hop, Kearney's major record label debut, Nothing Left to Lose, is an entirely new take on the singer-songwriter genre. The best part about it? Kearney is also not your typical self-absorbed artist.
Born and raised in the small city of Eugene, Ore., Kearney attended Chico State University, intending to major in English, until he picked up an acoustic guitar for the first time during junior year. He immediately dropped his future plans of writing and took a road trip to Nashville that summer to immerse himself in the world of music. Needless to say, he never returned.
Kearney discovered that he could combine his writing talents and his new love of music as a singer-songwriter. Nothing Left to Lose is actually Kearney's second album. He released Bullet through an independent Nashville-based label, making a decent-sized splash in the Tennessee area.
Kearney's Christian faith is also evident on his album. His references to God and to his faith are subtle, but not disguised by any means. Kearney says that this doesn't faze him. "My music is a representation of who I am, and if you met me, it's not like my faith doesn't exist within the real world. I try to write that way. I don't create music for a specific market. I create music that I think is good and hope it resonates with people. Hopefully, people will judge my art by what it is. If they like it, they like it, and if they don't, they don't." A singer-songwriter who makes music for its artistic value and for personal expression, not to sell records and make money is a definite breath of fresh air.
On the whole, Kearney's songs are easily accessible, but take multiple listenings to appreciate fully the beauty and depth of the sound. Take the first single - a mellow, hip-hop tinged jaunt called "Undeniable." On the first listen, the simple, catchy melody of the chorus is quickly apparent. But, by the third time, the subtle rhythmic structure of the spoken-word verses begins to shine through. Kearney's songs are so multi-layered, they command re-listens, and that is part of his appeal.
His vocals bring to mind a slightly harsher Chris Martin, or a more emotional Jack Johnson. Kearney can convey a multitude of emotions in his mature, soulful voice. His falsetto is pure, his spoken sections are reminiscent of beat poets, and when all background drops away and he sings a cappella, he can pull on heartstrings with the best of them.
But his vocals may not even be the best part of the album. Kearney's lyrics, like his voice, evoke and describe many emotions. His lyricism is at its finest on "All I Need," a piano ballad backed up with mellow percussion and even a string section. In it, Kearney sings of the attempts of a couple to break off a relationship, comparing them with a natural disaster to poignant effect.
Nothing Left to Lose is Kearney's soul bared shamelessly for all to see. Mirrored in his vocals, instrumental arrangements, and lyrics, it is obvious that this album's title is perfect. Kearney really has nothing left to lose, because he has put his entire being into this stellar major label debut. If he can retain the emotional pull and beauty of this album, Kearney will be a voice in acoustic folk-pop for years to come.
