A Review of the Album “The Frontlines” by Matt Malone
Music is all about creativity. So when a musician unashamedly said he was inspired by the likes of Ray LaMontagne, Bob Dylan, and The Eagles, who are famous household names, one has to put his claim to the test. So I was asked to look into Matt Malone’s musical prowess in the light of his new music album titled The Frontlines.
Who is Matt Malone?
Matt is a songwriter, composer, and singer birthed by Santa Fe in New Mexico. He started singing at the age of four. Skilled on the piano and a master of the guitar and rock line of instrumentals, it wasn’t surprising that Matt was deeply involved in many musical gigs in his early teens and 20s, touring with Washington DC’s alt-country and rock music bands.
Matt has a rare and wonderful knack for converting life events and personal experiences into heartfelt songs with universal messages. His style of music is eclectic, blending the grandiose of a typical country painted with blissful superlative elements of vibrant folk. Then he brings the creativity to bear on the whole mix by infusing rock to generate a sound that transcends the melodic and lyrical boundaries in ways that words alone cannot describe. Now we see why he is becoming a topic for discussions in New Mexico. And you can feel his creativity in his latest project “The Frontlines,” one of Matt’s most incredible sophomoric collections of soul-endearing tracks.
The Frontlines in Clear Perspective
The Frontlines is a 7-track album infused with intriguing folk, pop, and country normative tunes. It has this soul-moving effect, thanks to the remarkable way Matt Malone utilizes his storytelling country-induced thematic prowess. The tune on each track gives your heart a warming elementary feel that weaves reality into your perceptions. The entire project was professionally produced and loaded with unforgettable vocals and melodies that will make any playlists they’re added to a favorite.
The album opens with The Frontlines, the project’s anthem. Its vibe was soft, with clear vocals on that folk and country-infused theme, Matt confessed he is at “war with himself,” painting a picture of someone living a life they never envisaged. “I cannot afford to live that way” is one of the lyrical lines that suggest that people don’t often live according to how they set out to live, and the quest to live according to one’s plans puts one on the frontlines–the battle fought within. What a song.
On Wait Forever, the beat was more electrifying and the lyrics were highly relatable. All through this track, you can feel the deep and soulful emotional rendition of freedom, confusion, melancholy, and hope that characterize the singer’s life across the project. Here Matt paints the picture of a man who has lost out, and decided to move on but still can’t help to reminisce on the past while striving to hold on and be on the move enthusiastically on their new journey. I love this song.
Silver Hills delivers a more relaxed and balanced vibe compared to the previous track. Once again, the guitar’s Domino effect overwhelms the sacrosanct beat to sync perfectly with the singer’s confessional vocals. A line like “I never thought I’d live on Silver Hills” entails miracles can and do happen when you least expect it. “These broken moments, they kept me alive” are lines reaffirming the notion that difficulties produce happy endings for those that believe in perseverance.
In Letter for Leaving, Matt expressed his desire to move on when the chips are down and when the lovely moments have waxed cold. You can’t stay where you don’t belong anyway. The lyrics are soulfully heart-melting, right from the first line, with dark emotions clouding the vibe all through.
Five String carries a further lowrider vibe with the guitar, piano, and Matt’s soft vocals defining the outcome of the track. “You’re thousands of miles away from home” is one of the lines that speak about taking in the reality of the moment rather than basking in wishful thinking.
On Hedge My Bets, the melody was pure and the vibe returns to that balance and soul-compelling drive that projects the singer’s message on soft lyrics. The song is about losing oneself in a past situation that has come back to haunt the present.
Never Going Back is a cool low-vibe track that showcases the commitment to stand firm on a decision taken. The lyrics are deep on this track, and you have to be in the singer’s world to fully grasp the realities of the experience he was trying to explain. “I left while it was dark..”, and “I can never get some sleep“…are lines anyone can easily relate to. They tell of a life trapped in an unprofitable relationship/experience that one has to leave and never returns to.
From start to finish, The Frontlines album is a heavyweight with punchline vocals and relatable lyrics to reckon with. You can listen to it on Spotify or connect with it on Bandcamp and enjoy the best of Matt Malone, a musical genius.