CD Review: VOL. 2 - NO. 10 October 15th - November 14th, 2006

Matt McKay, Acoustic Rock
Boston Massachsuetts
By: Susan Frances, Northeast In-Tune Magazine

Matt McKay is an acoustic rock guitarist with songwriting skills that measure up to Chuck Cannon (Toby Keith's band) and Peter Yorn. His vocals have a Paul Stanley (lead singer of KISS) raspiness and a Sarah McLaughlin vulnerability. McKay chooses lyrics and chord moods that focus on the darker emotions of relationships - those insecurities that brew beneath the surface and long to come out. His acoustic ramblings are mellow and sparsely adorned, and yet the emotions are complex and bare a soul.
His song "Harder" has a folk/rock style like Sun Volt with movements that roam like a stream of consciousness, taking excerpts from a private journal. Matt's songs are private and the touches on the melodies are inclusive to himself. His track "They Don't" is another selection where he vents off feelings in the lyric:

"I feel like I'm getting to the point, where I am giving up on you."

He says what you would like to say to someone in your own life at times. The lyrics are accessible, raw and hold a personal meaning that can be applied to facets of other people's lives. His tune "Come" muskets dark, looming tones with lyrics in search of the light at the ending of the tunnel.

His self-titled album offers songs that speak of dark emotions that when not released, become choking to the soul. The adage that happiness is bittersweet is a reality in Matt's music. His songs express that moment when the glow of joy has waned and you have to find your way from there, with the musings of a few guitar strums to aid you along your search. They say that playing the acoustic guitar is unforgiving - all the blemishes and flaws of your playing show, and yet it is the one way to see yourself without pretense.

Matt McKay has a long history in the Boston music scene, recording and performing with artists like Rick Berlin, the band members of Extreme and Van Halen, Steve Vai, Joe Perry, Trans-Siberian Orchstra and his own band Bitterhead.

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