Who? At eighteen, singer/songwriter Matt Costa pickedup the guitar after a skateboarding accident shattered his leg, dashinghis dreams of becoming a professional skater. Now focused solely onsongwriting, Costa recorded a handful of demos, one of which landed inthe hands of No Doubt’s Tom Dumont. The SoCal axeman went on toproduced Costa’s two self-released EPs, and his 2005 studio full-lengthdebut, 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 bluegrassaccents of “Miss Magnolia” and the sleepy, lounge-inspired “Vienna,” Unfamiliar Facesis nothing if not catchy. Once again teaming with Dumont forproduction, Costa’s latest effort is reminiscent of jangly indie-poplike the Shins and Rogue Wave; his bright melodies are always thecenterpiece, resting just as comfortably on the country-tingedacoustics of “Never Looking Back” as on driving pop anthems like”Lilacs” and “Downfall.” And though Costa’s vocals are undeniablyupbeat, the album’s themes are not always so lighthearted; “Trying toLost My Mind” addresses the singer’s bout with debilitating panicattacks.
Fun Fact: Frustrated by his absence,Costa’s ex-girlfriend often buried his tape recorder in the backyardwhile 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?
