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Unfamiliar Faces by Matt Costa

Unfamiliar Faces

Release Date: 10/2/2007

Recording Date: 10/2007

Tracks: 12

Length: 00:46:37 Hrs

Label: Brushfire

Type: CD,LP

Genre/Styles:
Stage & Screen, United States of America, Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock

Album Tracks (12)

Song Title
Length
1.
Mr. Pitiful
02:55
2.
Lilacs
04:15
3.
Never Looking Back
04:04
4.
Emergency Call
04:59
5.
Vienna
04:04
6.
Unfamiliar Faces
04:06
7.
Cigarette Eyes
03:17
8.
Downfall
02:46
9.
Trying to Lose My Mind
03:52
10.
Bound
05:08
11.
Heart of Stone
03:53
12.
Miss Magnolia
03:18

What the Critics Say

Matt Costa's sophomore effort, Unfamiliar Faces, finds the singer/songwriter delving into similar territory to his 2006 debut, Songs We Sing, crafting hummable, somewhat intricate AM pop-influenced tracks. As with other similarly inclined artists like Josh Rouse, Costa trades in a kind of grab bag, post-alternative rock singer/songwriter style that references '80s British icons like Morrissey and the Cure as much as it does classic singer/songwriter and sunshine pop touchstones like Todd Rundgren, Brian Wilson, Jackson Browne, and others. A pleasant presence on record, Costa's vocal style does bring to mind a mix of the Shins' James Mercer and the Decemberists' Colin Meloy, and admittedly his odd penchant for affecting a British accent is a bit annoying -- he's from California for gosh sake. That said, tracks like "Mr. Pitiful" and "Cigarette Eyes" are immediately catchy and radio-ready singles that display Costa's obvious knack for Brit-pop-inspired songcraft. Similarly, such atmospheric and melancholy affairs as the very Smiths-sequel "Vienna" and countryish "Never Looking Back" are affecting and moving ballads perfect for the afterglow set. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi

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