Blue collar Springsteen-esque rock has been Mays' calling card for quite some time. That hasn't changed with the layoff. In fact, the record opens with a gritty rocker, "Indio", perfect for any road trip. That's matched by the equally hard-driving "Slow Burning Luck". "Dull Knife" is a Neil Young-style roots/blues hybrid.
There are more grooves this time around, with Mays digging way down for "Drop the Bombs". A funky bassline is cranked up on the all-too-brief "Airstrike".
The lead single "Take It On Faith" is a catchy, smooth-flowing rocker than manages to retain its rough edges. The harmonica-heavy "Queen of Portland Street" provides listeners the best opportunity to clap along.
Mays dips into World music for some of the sounds on Coyote. A Spanish-influence hangs over the brass-tooting, danceable "Madre Padre". On a couple of occasions, "Ain't That The Truth" and "Stoned", there's the very faintest of island undertones.
Sure Matt Mays isn't a groundbreaking artist with a sound that will alter how you view music. No, he's a hard-working, reliable, sweaty rock n' roller. And we need those kinds of musicians in our lives.
Best tracks: "Take It On Faith", "Queen of Portland Street"
Track listing for Coyote:
- Indio
- Airstrike
- Ain't That The Truth
- Take It On Faith
- Loveless
- Dull Knife
- Drop The Bombs
- Rochambo
- Slow Burning Luck
- Madre Padre
- Zita
- Stoned
- Queen of Portland Street
- Chase the Light
7.5/10
1 comment:
If you haven't gone to a Matt Mays show, do yourself a favour the next time he's in town. Balls out.
Awesome.
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