By: The Ballad - 4/28/2023
Henry St. is the seventh studio album from Swedish singer/songwriter, Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man on Earth. Released on April 14h, 2023 through Anti- Records, this album follows his 2022 release, Too Late for Edelweiss. Preceded by three singles, “Every Little Heart”, “Henry St.”, and “Looking For Love”, this album has a run time of 42 min 9 sec, and has eleven tracks. Announced on February 1st, 2023, this is the first album Matsson has recorded in a band setting, including the Dead Tongues’ Ryan Gustafson on guitar, lap steel and ukulele, TJ Maiani on drums, Bon Iver’s CJ Camerieri and Rob Moose on trumpet, French horn and strings, Phil Cook on keys and Landlady’s Adam Schatz on saxophone. Recorded at Sylvan Esso’s recording studio, Betty’s, in Durham, NC, Matsson comments that, “To get to be together in the room as friends and also be in the room and play music, that was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever been a part of… We would just talk about whatever—laughing—and that would seep into the recordings. I’ve chosen people for their musicianship, but also for their personalities.”
1. Bless You
Initially not my favorite song because of how different it was from Matsson’s typical style, (this sort of applies to a number of songs on the album) the vocal melodies and full band sound as a whole has really grown on me after a number of listens. It was a little off-puting at first, but now I see how it fits the vibe of this album very nicely. Through almost every single record in his discography, it seems that the sound as a whole evolves into its own chapter of his journey. While this is a very different chapter, this first track does a good job of introducing you to it, and I’m glad they decided to do it in the first song instead of waiting and stacking the more acoustic songs towards the front and catching the listener really off guard later on.
2. Looking For Love
The third single, released on April 11th, 2023, this probably just edges out the title track as my favorite single. The song builds off a piano motif and a couple simple chords that the guitar picking progresses through. That motif gets used by all the instruments and vocals as essentially the mainly melody for the song. Really simple, but catchy, singable, and just really well done. The second verse switches up the chord progression and gives it this minor/diminished feel even though the progression only goes to a diminished chord one time. Pretty cool switch-up with the melodies using a couple of accidentals to give it that minor feel. Big fan of this one.
3. Every Little Heart
The first single, released on February 1st, 2023; this was the first taste of the new sound of the album. Melancholy, yet quickly paced and hopeful at the same time gives the song a sense of instability. The arrangement actually isn’t super complex, however the rhythm and groove of each instrument fills out the sound, giving it a sparse, yet still full sound. I’m surprised they didn’t start the album with this track, but it still fits well in this third spot.
4. Slowly Rivers Turn
Probably one of the weaker tracks in my opinion, even though it’s definitely still enjoyable and I wouldn’t skip it. It’s just a little too chilled out, and not in an interesting or emotional way, but more so just a bit boring. It draws a little too much on country influences in my opinion, but there are a few cool sections like the saxophone solo at the end and the crescendo into the final chorus, but other then those, it just feels a bit drab.
5. Major League
Every banjo/mandolin song Matsson writes I’m a sucker for, and this one is no different. Good vocal melodies, interesting and catchy lyrics, and the quick bluegrass style of the banjo just give this track more of a timeless feel. The instrumentation is also more sparse, further giving it that classic feel that he does so well. Simple but fun, I like it.
6. Henry St.
The second single, released on March 6th, 2023; this is easily the most unique song on the album. Extremely simple instrumentation, just solo piano and vocals, but that serves the rawness of the song. Down-tempo and very relaxed, yet still interesting and emotional. It’s a very vulnerable and real track, and shows off Matsson’s songwriting, and in my opinion, is really where he shines the most. Big fan of this one.
7. In Your Garden Still
We pick it back up in tempo with this next one, with the best description I can think of being, this is the catchiest and most mainstream song on the album. It shows off the full arrangement of the band, and is a good attention grabber. Which is probably why they performed it live for the CBS Saturday Morning program. It’s got sort of a pop-feel to the whole thing, so not my favorite track, but its grown on me since I first heard it and I do enjoy it.
8. Goodbye
I get old country ballad vibes from this song, which you might think would sound kind of antiquated and cheesy, yet it doesn’t. The timbres and arrangement it revolves around is timeless enough to remain relevant even by today’s standards. In fact I’d argue Matsson does a better job than most actual country singers nowadays on drawing out that nostalgia feel.
9. Italy
This one reminds me a lot of the majority of the 2019 album I Love You. It’s a Fever Dream. It has that same spacey, verby sound that is so interesting and well done on that album. The mandolin he plays here gives the track a lighter, airier feeling than maybe a guitar would, and I like that choice in order to compliment the timbre of the other instruments. Really pretty vocal melodies that tend to move up instead of down also lend to the feeling of lightness this song has.
10. New Religion
This is probably my favorite song on the album that uses the full band. They are more supportive around Matsson’s vocals, and I think that’s really the most effective way to employ a full band with a typically solo artist. Amplifying the soloist instead of trying to turn them into a frontman for a band is going to work a lot better for this sort of genre in my opinion. The subtly of the band, with the addition of the strings, just gives a really beautiful timbre to this song; I really like it.
11. Foothills
An instant classic in my opinion. Incredibly simple, and actually the shortest song on the album, but just so beautiful. A wonderfully emotional melody complimented by very thoughtful lyrics; the very first time I heard it, it was instantly my favorite, and has stayed that way. Maybe I’m just a bit too sentimental, but I think it’s a testament to Matsson’s songwriting and the emotions he is able to draw out.
Conclusion:
Overall I found the album to be quite different and unique in comparison to previous works, but in a very wonderful way. The more I learn and read about the process to create it, I realize the need for collaboration, even in the more intimate, solo artist path, is a necessary part of musical evolution. Now that this part of The Tallest Man on Earth’s story has started, I’m excited to see where it takes him next.
Rating: 9/10
Favorite Song: Foothills