You can practically hear the ad men grinning from ear to ear with ‘Elusive’, a re-released single off Wolverhampton singer/songwriter Scott Matthews’ debut album, Passing Stranger.
Stereotypically featuring gentle vocals, a gently strummed acoustic guitar and a gentle wave of “This should force a few tears out them” harmonies in the background (starting to get my not so gentle point?), this is the stuff that shopping trips to the GAP for freshly pleated khakis were made for. Or, if we’re looking for another analogy to express Matthews’ MOR musings, this is tailor-made for individuals who get a thrill from occasionally ordering a cheeky orange mocha frappucciono instead of their usual, sensible, skim de-cafe latte at Starbucks.
The only thing favouring this release is the production. Its hushed vocal harmonies lend themselves to a quasi-ambient tone that raises it slightly, and just slightly, above the dreaded James’ (Blunt and Morrison) of the world.
Do yourself a favour and pick up some Nick Drake or Elliott Smith if you’re looking for decent songs played on an acoustic, because you certainly won’t find it here.
A suitably
caustic review of a shitty song.
Nope, actually a shit review of a great song.
What kind of total retard reviews a song 9 months after it was released anyway?
It wasn't re-released by the way.
calm yrself
it was a single in sept 2006 and it has just been reissued - harsh review though
dont know what youre talking about
its a lovely song. Give it a few more listens and it's quite haunting. I'm not a fan of this attitude that anything played acoustically by a man other than Smith or Drake is automatically crap.
See the guy live..
You will truely appreciate this guys talent live...not all the magic can be recorded!
Great song, great album!
Charles..
... Ubaghs yourself a medal for being the biggest twunt of all time. Congrats.
nah
this song is pretty boring, and so is scott matthews
BUT
a 2 might be harsh
I'm no Scott Matthews fan
but this is a great song (on an average album). Understated in a way that Blunts et al could only dream of
...
I heard a radio ad a few months ago describing Scott Matthews as having something along the lines of “one of the most unique voices around”. That’s only because Jeff Buckley’s dead, right? I’m not even much of a Buckley fan, but when an artist so shamelessly attempts to imitate another, as Matthews does here, I find it difficult to respect, or even care about, his work enough to say anymore about it than this.
yes...
he blatantly wants to be Jeff, and yes the album's far too long and full of crap, BUT this song in particular is rather good.
2 is very harsh. No skinny-latte for you!
Ignorant
This critic is an ignorant arse hole with no soul. Stop writing absolute nonsense and go and actually listen to some Nick Drake yourself, because you sound extremely thick. Scott Matthews writes and plays beautiful songs. I'd like to hear your input into the music industry.