Mike Mattison & Trash Magic – Turn A Midnight Corner
This Minnesota-Grammy Award-winning artist is best known as a 23-year-plus member of both The Tedeschi-Trucks Band & Derek Trucks Band. This album is Mike Mattison’s 3rd solo effort & traces the story of Ted ‘n’ Turk – a fictitious 1930 rural blues duo “rediscovered” in the 1970s. They’re elders of their music genre now & they’re expected to re-record their original blues songs that were released on 78 rpm platters. What should’ve been an inspiring & happy reunion is tainted.
12 blues adventures take place on Turn A Midnight Corner (Drops Jan 16/Landslide Records/42:03) produced by Mike (vocals/acoustic guitar) & Jason Kingsland. Recorded in Roswell, GA, the proceedings get off to a galloping start with “Going Down the Alley.” It has a country & western incisiveness coupled with Link Wray/Duane Eddy-type guitar notes that have a cool, haunting, rousing itch to the melody with playful piano notes & a relentless beat. It’s retro with a fortified modern presence.
All the songs have an evolving energy similar to many past alt-country rock bands when they’re firing on all cylinders. “And I’m Gone” is a superb number – half Blasters, half ZZ Top & loaded with Mike Mattison’s unique touch. His voice isn’t Tom Waits in timbre, but at times, it does have a similar phrasing projection.
It surfaces again on “Lookee Here while the song “When I Was Loaded” has a more Kim Wilson & the Fabulous Thunderbirds bluesy moderate dense magic to it. Even in its slow groove, it has a sweep in its beat like when a dog shakes off the rain. Nice noir-guitar & greasy burger drum rolls keep the beat. Mike has a command of bringing his unique stylization to his vocals on each piece. It helps when he adds individuality to his songs, which are played well but are rather standard fare.
However, on songs like “Homesick Lullaby,” Mattison has a vocal coating that’s reminiscent of the late Mark Germino (“Fields of Man’s New Order”). Mike has just enough country in his voice to stay well balanced on the tightrope of traditional-outlaw & alt-country. “Be Like a Train” would’ve been an ideal cover for the late Boxcar Willie, who turned simple songs into theatrical country pieces.
There are some good basic standard entertaining rockers to fill out the album in a Chuck Berry tradition. The band itself does indeed fire on all cylinders.
Highlights – “Going Down the Alley,” “And I’m Gone,” “When I Was Loaded,” “Homesick Lullaby,” “Be Like a Train,”& “Lookee Here.”
Musicians – Tyler Greenwell (drums/percussion), Dave Yoke (guitars), Greg Spradlin (guitars) & Wesley Flowers (bass/keys).