So there's no way I could listen to all my collection in cronological order like alongwaltz. I'd be Mick Jagger's age before I reached albums Mick Jagger sang on at my age. But I can pull out albums at random and post thoughts with an attention to grammar and spelling similar to alongwaltz's which is what I intend to do.

so here's the first:



Matt Keating "Tell It To Yourself"

Well, to be honest about how this thing is going to work, this album is the third album I pulled but the first I felt like listening to. The first was a "Love Spit Love" album and I can't even remember what the second was, but I wasn't willing to listen and review it. But I pulled this randomly after rejecting the other two.

I know at least one other obner is a fan of Matt Keating's. I think its Gordo, but Matt Keating fans speak up. Matt's not blessed with a great voice. He tends to rely more than necessary on rhyming in his songwriting, although not in a weak powerpop way. But somehow it all works.

This is his first album and my first introduction to Mr. Keating. I've held this album in high regard and listening to it again, perhaps too high regard. I still love a few songs, particlarly "Lonely Blue," "A Little Talk," and "Lost Again," but where sentimentality would have assumed this was a critical highpoint for him I now recognize it as a talented songwriter just getting his feet wet. Rather than rattle on, here's an excerpt of the best song (Lonely Blue) on the album:

tried to sidestep the pain
but it reels its head back up again
laughs at me right to my face
says who you foulin' mister then i'm back in my place
Take a walk down to the liquor store, it's closed
I walk back to my bedroom and dosed
I saw the future that I have imposed
so my confession you will find enclosed:

I am lonely blue
Iam jealousy green
I was hateful and spiteful and mean
but I won't be the man that I have been

With every album since, his songwriting has grown stronger and more consistent. His latest album is a definite top 10 for me and a possible top 5.

And just so you know I'm not the only one who likes him, here's a few excerpts from critics:









Its my intention to do one of these a week or so unless I start feeling like its totally masturbatory in nature. In any case, I enjoy alongwaltz's thread and wish more people would do something similar.

I've got this album...got it sometime in high school. I can't remember where I first heard him. Probably on an Alias records sampler, as lame as that sounds. How 90s. I haven't really listened to this much since maybe 1996, but there are some good songs. I remember liking "Nostalgia" quite a bit. Rather depressing song. I bought his next album on glow in the dark vinyl, and may have picked up a cd copy for cheap a couple years ago. But I may have sold that since then. Still have the vinyl though!

what does ITT stand for anyway?

in this thread?

Cool, billy - good luck with the project.

One request - could you still put the release date in? I have a feeling you're going to have a lot of artists I'm not familiar with, and I like to know how many years I've been ignorant.

That kind of hurt to read, maybe a less authentic emulation of alongwaltz's grammar would help. Also, your own RIYL and maybe a tune up on Dalen's site?

I'm a pioneer.