Matt Hammon - Silver Suitcase
When different outlets start compiling their lists
of 2017’s best indie releases, Matt Hammon’s Silver Suitcase will make the
grade with many. This outstanding ten song set is played, mixed, and arranged
by Hammon alone, but the strain of such a heavy load never shows on the
performances or writing. There’s a crackling baseline of energy Hammon
maintains from the first song through the last and he’s obviously been able to
draw from the best material he’s written in his years playing a supporting role
to artists like Bob Mould and as part of bands like Mineral, Verbow, and The
Rebecca West. It results in a fistful of barn burners, anthemic style guitar
rock with some unusual textures and instrumental additions that spin it in an
individualistic way. Stylists are often some of the most well regarded
musicians and songwriters working in popular music and, despite the influences
on Silver Suitcase, you’ll finish it convinced that no one else really writes a
Matt Hammon song. There’s a distinctiveness to how he pulls things off that’s subject
to influence but, ultimately, under no one’s spell.
“Pictures” introduces listeners to Hammon’s writing
style, among its other qualities. His songwriting has a natural penchant for
seizing on imagery that lodges itself listener’s memories rather than strictly
trading in generalities and clichés. The musical template for much of Silver
Suitcases is set with this song as well, though don’t mistake Hammon as a
songwriter afraid to mix up his approach. “The Table” has less of a focus on
his vocals and lyrics, but the music more than makes up for it as Hammon grabs
onto a full on post punk rock guitar assault, but Hammon never deserves style
entirely in favor of pure energy and attitude. “Never Say So” is one of the
album’s more naturally commercial numbers thanks to the vocal melody and the
way he orchestrates the guitar work in a balanced and appealing way. His vocals
are, once again, one of the best qualities of the performance. “Silver
Suitcase”, the album’s title number, shows Hammon’s ambition stretching some,
at least in terms of the lyric, and his grasp proves to be the equal of his reach
as it all holds together in a vivid and accessible way.
“Colorful Regret” is one of the album’s quirkier
musical numbers and twists his influences in a highly individual way that
recalls the collection’s base sound without mindlessly repeating it. The
thoughtful sequencing that went into making this album a reality peaks with the
choice of its final two songs – “Sleeper’s Town” is one of the album’s most
interesting lyrics and an acoustic driven performance while the finale, “Name
Game”, is a departing blast of guitar and sports another biting lyric from
Hammon’s pen. The artfulness involved in this release is real, but Matt Hammon
is a musical performer and writer who burns with passion that shapes any
technique in a powerful new direction. The sense of anything goes here is
palpable and makes Silver Suitcase all the more memorable.
Joshua Stryde
