Matt Mcginn - Latter Day Sinner

Matt McGinn

Latter Day Sinner
self-released; 2014

4.0 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

The upcoming release Latter Day Sinner by Matt McGinn is the type of album that hits you emotionally whether you want it to or not. As I was listening to the album in its entirety I won’t deny there were a couple of moments that the music made my eyes well up. McGinn makes wonderful open acoustic based songs that blend folk, Americana and pop music. The most obvious comparison to me is The Frames. McGinn and Glen Hansard both successfully blend melancholy in their music that feels heartfelt, warm and provides a sense a solace. Ultimately, that is why Latter Day Sinner is such enjoyable album.

Albums with a fair amount of melancholy aren't supposed to leave you with a feeling of sadness. They should instill a sense of empathy and sense of comfort and that’s exactly what this album does. It doesn't hurt that the songs are beautifully captured. The recording quality is unequivocally top notch and only adds to the emotional weight of the songs.

Latter Day Sinner is a great album that you can listen to from the start and not skip a track. There wasn’t a song that gave me the urge to get to the next. That being said there were a couple of songs that were noteworthy.

“I'm not Looking Down Anymore (feat. Madeleine Slate)” is a gorgeous song that features commendable vocal performances by both McGinn and Slate. When they combine vocals it sounds fantastic. Musically, it feels so open; a piano, organ and acoustic dance together creating a great sounding combination of tones and nuances.

Another highlight was “Darkest Before The Day,” which revolves around orchestral strings, piano and guitar. The song ends with a feeling of triumph and rebirth and leaves you feeling rejuvenated. One of the most melancholy but most beautiful songs is “You Have Dreams.” The song is sparse as the instrumentation only comes in when it needs to and leaving so much space for the poignant lyrics to come through. This is a certified tearjerker.

There were a number of other songs that were highlights but I don’t have enough space on this page to go into detail. You should know all you need to. This is essential listening material. McGinn has created a beautiful sounding album that you won’t want to miss.

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