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Comparisons can often beset and sometimes haunt performers. For Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man On Earth, it’s seemingly unshakable: Bob Dylan. It might be lazy and supremely facile, like saying The Quran is just like The Bible because they both happen to be books, but such labels can stick. Yet being lauded in such terms has helped the Swedish singer/songwriter’s profile rise exponentially — and deservedly — with him recently supporting Bon Iver and rapidly climbing the festival bill food chain on the strength of his engaging solo performances.
The compliment that’s really being paid when the D-word is mentioned is that Matsson has managed to make primarily acoustic, roots music distinctive. Yes, it might be marked by a grizzled vocal scrape and a verbose lyric, but in the most unforgiving genre where artists stand or fall on the strength of songwriting chops, Matsson is — with no apologies for the obvious use of his stage name — head and shoulders above the field. There’s No Leaving Now, his third album, is another pristine entry in an increasingly polished repertoire of beguiling songs. It’s absolutely captivating from first note to last. — musicOMH.com
OTHER NEW VINYL RELEASES:
Metric Synthetica (limited-edition 45RPM version also available)
Hot Chip In Our Heads
Guided By Voices Class Clown Spots a UFO
Rush Clockwork Angels
Superchunk This Summer/Cruel Summer
Pop Etc. Pop Etc.
Motion City Soundtrack Go
Vincas Blood Bleeds
Welcome Wagon Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
White Manna White Manna
The Young Dub Egg
Benny Soebardja Gut Rock