Who? At eighteen, singer/songwriter Matt Costa picked up the guitar after a skateboarding accident shattered his leg, dashing his dreams of becoming a professional skater. Now focused solely on songwriting, Costa recorded a handful of demos, one of which landed in the hands of No Doubt's Tom Dumont. The SoCal axeman went on to produced Costa's two self-released EPs, and his 2005 studio full-length debut, Songs We Sing. Costa's sophomore effort and second release for Jack Johnson's Brushfire label, Unfamiliar Faces, arrives Jan. 22.

What's the Deal? From the bouncy piano sing-along "Mr. Pitiful" to the sunny bluegrass accents of "Miss Magnolia" and the sleepy, lounge-inspired "Vienna," Unfamiliar Faces is nothing if not catchy. Once again teaming with Dumont for production, Costa's latest effort is reminiscent of jangly indie-pop like the Shins and Rogue Wave; his bright melodies are always the centerpiece, resting just as comfortably on the country-tinged acoustics of "Never Looking Back" as on driving pop anthems like "Lilacs" and "Downfall." And though Costa's vocals are undeniably upbeat, the album's themes are not always so lighthearted; "Trying to Lost My Mind" addresses the singer's bout with debilitating panic attacks.

Fun Fact: Frustrated by his absence, Costa's ex-girlfriend often buried his tape recorder in the backyard while he was away on tour. 

Now Hear This:
Matt Costa - "Mr. Pitiful" DOWNLOAD MP3

Now Watch This:
Matt Costa - "Mr. Pitiful" QUICKTIME | WINDOWS MEDIA

On the Web:
Matt Costa at MySpace
mattcosta.com

Talk: Would you like to see Matt Costa's "Unfamiliar Face" in your town?