Album Review

Matthew Glenn Thompson – The Garden And The Arcade

• 2nd Feb 2010

Cruising and thoughtful Tennessee born pop, indie and folk tinkerer, Matthew Thompson opens this foraging UK debut album with a textured and melodious guitar swirling, echoing vocal led lamentation of the dissection of a relationship, ‘End Of The Parade’. The track is kicked along by a pulsing Snow Patrol veined percussion twist, provided by courtesy of Michael Jerome Moore (Better Than Ezra), before Thompson settles into a skipping acoustic stride.

As the album builds, he finds a vocal pitch between the haunted pop push of Daniel Powter and the mystique of acoustic surf protagonists Matt Costa and Jack Johnson.

‘Daylight’, has enough of a bound to it and a lost yet friendly feel to make it the perfect soundtrack for any The O.C. episode. This vibe is continued and built upon in the story of mundane life that enjoyed by an ‘Ordinary Girl’:

“Jenny’s got a plan to follow through, but she can’t escape between me and you.She’s pouring out but nothing’s wet, hopes for deeper moments in her bed.Jenny says it’s too tough to get out.”

Having spent much time on the road, supporting a range of acts including Bowling For Soup, The Goo Goo Dolls and The Nixons. Has enabled this earthy character to develop friendly warmth and instil his character with belief. This comes through even when he takes bleaker topics like wallowing in regret, ‘January Day’. As well as when he slows down and instils a pop/soul/ with a trickle of blues slant, ‘Hovering Over Hell’.
The title track provides for a buoyant, Finn Brothers skirting conclusion.

Glenn Thompson’s stateside touring and releases, gives him an advantage over other debut albums here in the UK. As now, the first impressions that British listeners will have of this erstwhile performer is that he is well-polished and possesses a laid-back touch, there are too many rough edges left to be smoothed over. The feelings of bemusement and the heart-wrenching nature of some of the material is delivered with a contrasting and endearing calmness.

This will help Thompson leave a lasting impression.