Friday 29 April 2011



Matthew Barber goes it alone

Toronto-based singer-songwriter preps self-titled, sixth LP

Last week I read Tina Fey’s new book, Bossypants, not having been a fan of her work prior to picking up the book.  For some reason, 30 Rock was just one of those shows that I never got around to watching from the beginning, and I didn’t bother getting into it afterward (although I’m half way through Season 1 since finishing the book).  The main thrust of the memoir is how Fey handles being the head of a popular network TV show (something that few women get the chance to do), and how she has assembled the talented and highly motivated crew that helps her put on the show each week.  Fey insists that, regardless of the credits that roll at the start of each show, 30 Rock is a group effort, and she couldn’t do it without everyone involved.

In the book Fey is basically protecting herself by saying, “if this show failed or succeeded, I couldn’t be held responsible for it alone”, but what about someone like Matthew Barber, who is about to release a self-titled album he wrote, produced, mixed and performed all on his own?  That’s an awesome responsibility to take on, and it’s one I give him credit for undertaking.

Matthew Barber is his sixth studio record, and he says,  “It’s the first time I’ve made a record by myself at home since the record before my first official record, if that makes sense,” and it does.  A move like this is usually one of necessity for a band or performer just starting out, trying to get their music heard.  For Barber, it’s been over 10 years since he put out that record before his first record, and things have definitely changed: “I’d like to think my recording chops have improved a bit since then,” says Barber, “and I’ve collected a few more odds and ends to play with in the studio.”

I’m waiting to get my hands on the whole record, but if the first release from it, “Ring Upon Your Finger” is any indication, Matthew Barber the album is going to put Matthew Barber the musician on a lot of people’s radar.  The song deftly handles a number of classic pop and rock influences and distills it down to a pure, simple, songwriting style that is distinctly Barber’s.  The album will hit shelves on June 5, just before Barber hits the road in support of it:

June 6: Winnipeg @ The Park Theatre
June 7: Saskatoon @ Amigos
June 8: Edmonton @ The Pawn Shop
June 9: Calgary @ The Palamino
June 11: Vancouver @ The Biltmore Cabaret
June 20: Halifax @ The Carelton
June 24: Toronto @ The Great Hall

MP3: Matthew Barber “Ring Upon Your Finger”
Facebook: Matthew Barber
Twitter: Matthew Barber





by J. Di Gioia | No Comments »

This entry was posted on Friday, April 29th, 2011 at 8:35 am and is filed under MP3. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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