Matt Costa

Don’t judge a book by its cover. Normally, I would say this could apply to album cover art, as well, but with Matt Costa’s debut full length, Songs We Sing, the inviting, outdoorsy cover fits pretty perfectly with the music. I have to admit, though, that before I actually got to listen to the album I read the lyrics and was left feeling a little bit skeptical. While many of them are heartfelt and sweet, some seemed a little too close to the border of that country many songwriters seem to visit...cliché.

Upon first listen, though, my skepticism was almost instantly transformed into belief. Where many songwriters would fail making such songs (nothing too complex or out of the ordinary here), Costa’s voice and some excellent production mold the pop gems and hook-filled summer melodies into a cohesive and endearing album. The instrumentation is nothing too out of the ordinary, for the most part, but just about everything manages to sound fresh, from the uplifting Shins flavored opener “Cold December,” through the haunting final track, “Wash Away.” Overall, it is a solid debut that leaves me looking forward to the summer, to the future, and especially, to Costa’s next album.

For more info see: mattcosta.com