Matt Andersen from the album The Big Bottle of Joy

Matt Andersen from the album The Big Bottle of Joy

Matt Andersen from the album The Big Bottle of Joy on Stubby Fingers Inc/Sonic Records (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Matt Andersen is one prolific individual. With ten albums to his credit, constant touring throughout the world, over 23 million streams on Spotify and 26 million views of YouTube, not to mention he has shared stages with Marcus King, Beth Hart, Marty Stuart, Gregg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Bachman, Jonny Lang, Serena Ryder, and others. Matt Andersen possesses an extra dose of stamina as he clearly maintains a great degree of momentum. That extreme dexterity also finds Andersen bending boundaries. veering from Folk and Gospel to blustery Blues and abject Americana while segueing smoothly between each.
 
Consequently, Matt Andersen’s new album, The Big Bottle of Joy, presumably named for his backing band  —drummer Geoff Arsenault, bassist Mike Farrington Jr., piano player Kim Dunn, guitarist Cory Tetford, and keyboardist Chris Kirby — lives up to its title. Andersen’s a fiery and forthright singer, one who possesses true passion through a fervent combination of emotion and enthusiasm. That becomes obvious early on with lead-off track “Let It Shine”, its hammering keyboards, searing lead guitar, and assertive back-up vocals instilling a certain frenzy in the fray. On the other hand, “So Low, Solo” offers encouragement and compassion while speaking to those on opposite sides of today’s distancing and divide. ‘We’re here to hold each other up’ Anderson insists.
 
Most of the other tracks carry a similarly soulful sway, from the emphatic exhortation of “Golden”, “What’s on My Mind”, and “How Far Will You Go” to the passionate plea of “Aurora”, the emotive yet eloquent delivery of “Miss Missing You” and the shared sentiment expressed so eloquently with “Keep Holding On”, “Shoes”, “Hands of Time”, and “Only an Island”. Matt Andersen’s songs sound like standards even at the outset — notably, he had a hand in writing all but three of these new offerings — and his authoritative delivery simply underscores that impression. The take-charge Blues of “Rollin’ Down the Road” offers but one example of that persuasive prowess.
 
At this point, there’s little doubt that Matt Andersen has the talent and tenacity to establish himself as a formidable mainstream performer, an artist who can easily position himself amongst those that are finding firm footing while leaning on vintage R&B. Suffice it to say, Matt Andersen is clearly at the top of his game. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Matt Andersen from AMAZON
 
For more information head on over to the Matt Anderson website