News:: Upon further review, Matthew Barber is still amazing

In a bit of terrific news, the Carleton is playing host to Matthew Barber on October 22nd. The tiny restaurant/stage is a perfect location for the charismatic singer, one that will cater to his intimate songs and sing-along style. I was actually going to post about his terrific record – Ghost Notes – again. Even though I gushed about how fantastic the songs are, I still didn’t due the album justice. Ghost Notes hit me right away, but it has grown on me incredibly since March, and cemented a spot on my Best-of list for '08.

His stories play out like fantastic literature, steeped in nostalgia and compassion; anger and regret. It’s rare that a blogger sticks with an album after it’s reviewed – those lies about playing things non-stop for weeks on end are impossible if you really want to keep posting on a daily basis – but Barber’s play count has steadily increased over the last few months. Ghost Notes fueled our drive across the country, our move, tedious hours of yard work, wine on the back deck, morning jogs, and any spare moment in between.

When I first reviewed the record, I commented how Barber makes things seems easy; spare arrangements, simple melodies, classic phrasing, pure emotions. But the more I listen to the record, the more I realize how well thought out it really is. Even as he strums on the confessional Somebody Sometime – which I never realized until a few weeks ago, sounds sort of like Mother and Child Reunion – he tosses in just enough playfulness to lighten the mood. It’s not often a lyric from Aqua could fit into any track of quality, but when he says, “Come on barbie let’s go party”, anyone who was around in the 90’s can’t help but smile. It’s that kind of little detail – like a flourish of horns on I'm Going to Settle My Accounts With You or changing the mood with a well placed piano ballad (Where The River Bends or the perfect closer, Our Voices) - that make this record, like the subject matter he presents, timeless.

So thanks to the Carleton for helping me make this post a bit more relevant. Not only does the Carleton have terrific food, but it's it is hosting tons of great singer song writers over the next few months. With the small amount of quality venues in the city, the chance to see talented performers in a quiet, frat guy free environment is not one to be missed.