Songs We Sing

by

Matt Costa

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Many were first introduced to Matt Costa when he popped up on Jack Johnson led Curious George Soundtrack. His inclusion, Lullaby was less than impressive and definitely couldn't hold up against the likes of Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. Now Costa is trying to strike out on his own with his first full length album, the appropriately titled Songs We Sing.

Cost does have a good pedigree being a skateboarder turned singer-songwriter discovered by the surfer turned Johnson. Costa's sound doesn't deviate too much from his mentor, but Costa does seem to have a wider variety of influences that includes some bluegrass (Ballad of Miss Kate), country (Sweet Rose), and even some songs with a distinct sixties British Invasion vibe (Songs We Sing) to go along with the traditional folk that Johnson usually utilizes. There's even a spacey song that reminds me of Nick Drake (Yellow Taxi).

But even with the eclectic musical genres represented on the album, Costa still lacks something. Whereas Johnson's silky voice sooths the listener taking them to a mellow place, Costa's voice hasn't found that ability in him yet. Even though the album grew on me each listening, it's not something that could replace any of Johnson's disks out of heavy rotation in my CD player.