Hurry
Matthew Scottoline has grafted the best qualities of ’90s bubblegum power pop–the pitch-perfect songwriting, the pop-rock sheen, the borderline saccharine vocal melodies–onto something far more raw and emotionally resonant. Don’t Look Back is striking in its tenderness and candor–approximately half of the lyrics on the record concern the deterioration of an 11-year relationship Scottoline was in, with the other half being a celebration of new love. The first words Scottolin sings, in opening track “Didn’t Have to Try,” is essentially a statement of theme: “And we’re back at the beginning / Never thought I’d see a face like that again / It attacks when we’re not ready / And I won’t play it safe this time.” This is pop music about actual feelings which means it’s automatically better than most pop music. It is challenging and addictive.
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