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Matt Ebert, R&Bewilderment

by Glenn Fullington
01/19/2008

Matt Ebert has it. The blues, soul, a raspy voice that sounds like 30 years of whiskey and cigarettes. Musically, R&Bewilderment is well thought out and executed. The production quality is lacking, but that makes it so much better.

Matt Ebert is not signed; his album came complete with a handwritten note. Needless to say, he should be.

The groove breakdowns and yelping vocals on “The Top of Gainesville (Bang Bang)” are accentuated by equally yelped guitar riffs to create an amazing emotionally charged composition.

“Big Toe Blues” is loose and fluid. There is something in the instruments cries compassion in “Bottled Up Blues.” “Demonic Hodown” should be the soundtrack to a backwoods car chase involving aliens and lots of hallucinogens.

Ebert even makes a stab at Led Zeppelin with his rendition of “Communication Breakdown.” It works in a funky R&B way, giving proper accord to a guitar solo.

The motownesque “Ain’t No Woman,” surprised me with the amount of soul Ebert exudes.

“Hunger Strike” is a Temple of Dog cover that Ebert pulls off masterfully.

R&Bewilderment is strong. Ebert has the blues and offers the proof. Maybe he'll come to Athens so we can see it live.