On CRASH, the spotlight is again on Matthews's literate, adventurous songwriting, which bears the influences of Afrobeat ("Say Goodbye"), Tropicalia ("Let You Down"), and music from the Balkans ("Two Step"). Matthews blends these diverse styles on a singer/songwriter palette with loose, appealing melodies and intricate, rhythmic guitar lines, making the songs on CRASH even better than those on its predecessor. Much of the charm of Matthews's music comes from his band, with their unique instrumentation (including violin and saxophone), meticulous arrangements, and notably superior musicianship. Another of the group's stylistic angles is 1970s funk, and the ensemble channels this influence overtly on the punchy, horn-driven "Too Much", and implicitly elsewhere (even the acoustic numbers seem to pop and snap intensely). With Matthews's associative lyrics and distinctive, sliding tenor over the top, all this adds up to an original and undeniably winning record.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. So Much To Say
2. Two Step
3. Crash Into Me
4. Too Much
5. #41
6. Say Goodbye
7. Drive In Drive Out
8. Let You Down
9. Lie In Our Graves
10. Cry Freedom
11. Tripping Billies
12. Proudest Monkey