Re Mattei “Stories Lived”
Re Mattei has a new album just out, Stories Lived. Her music is a version of heartland country, with driving rhythms and vocals that provide a timeless big stage feel. Not a flashy pop “big stage” over the top entertainment feel; this is a driving, Charlie Daniels or Shania Twain quality vibe with a thread of heartland rock to ground the sound. The album was produced by the Grammy winning Alexx Antaeus.
“It’s A Love Thing” is a little bit bluesy and swaggery as Re’s vocals hit nice and easy, and then the electric guitars and organ hit just the right spot. “I Wonna Hear a Train Song” hits an upbeat shuffle and you can feel the freedom opening wide before you: “I could buy me a ticket in a New York minute But that would be too well planned / I’d rather jump in a box car with money in my pocket And just see where I land.” The violin is low and first rate and this song plays on the freedoms that trains represent, while tipping its hat to the traditional folk train songs that formed the early part of the canon.
“Michigan Rain” is a cautionary moral tale, while “Heartbreak in a Bottle” has a decidedly heartland rock feel as it warns of the toxic patterns we may ourselves embody.
“Momma Always Knows” is a sweet homage to a mother who was encouraging and loving: “Look me in the eyes as she tucked me in at night / It’s as if she could see my dreams in my mind / Without me saying a word she’d make me feel heard / Ohhh Somehow momma always knows.” The piano is rich and there are well placed cymbal clangs.
Closing the album and bringing the house down, “Thunder and Lightning” has a big stage style buildup, with foreboding and then soaring vocals and is an infectiously solid good country song.
More details are available here on her website: http: //remattei.com
Stories Lived was co-produced by Alexx Antaeus and Re Mattei, engineered by Bart Pursley, and mixed and mastered by Alex Psaroudakis and Joe Maldonado.
Musicians on the album are Re Mattei on lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo (When All Is Said And Done) and spoons (When All Is Said And Done); Jonathan Birdwell on background vocals (Heartbreak in A Bottle, Thunder And Lightning, Michigan Rain); Jon Conley on electric guitar and banjo (When All is Said And Done), fiddle (Thunder and Lightning); Tim Denbo on bass; David Dorn on keys (Heartbreak in a Bottle, Thunder and Lightning, Michigan Rain); Mike Rojas on keys ( It’s A Love Thing, Momma Always Knows, When All Is Said and Done); Jason Roller on fiddle (I Wonna Hear A Train Song, Michigan Rain).