The Tallest Man On Earth: There's No Leaving Now

The Tallest Man On Earth
There's No Leaving Now
Dead Oceans Records [2012]









 Fire Note Says: The Tallest Man On Earth returns with another memorable batch of folk tracks!

Album Review:
Our favorite Dylan like vehicle The Tallest Man On Earth aka Kristian Matsson returns with another 10 tracks on There's No Leaving Now which stays the course and should completely satisfy fans. Now here is where the debate begins - should you criticize an artist for not taking enough risks on a new record even if the results are still top notch and deliver a stellar performance?

I tend to lean towards the side of wanting to hear good music and not punishing an artist for fine tuning what they know. That is the case for There's No Leaving Now which once again is another superb indie folk album but has more subtle changes from his album The Wild Hunt [2010]. The record finds Matsson expanding the instruments to the mix such as drums, woodwinds and more intricate guitar work. This immediately gives There's No Leaving Now a fuller sound although it is not in your face but can be heard more behind the scenes as you give the record repeat spins.

Matsson's vocals are still the focus and highlight on There's No Leaving Now but one thing that is different this go around is the urgency in his voice. I do believe that his strained vocals on The Wild Hunt pushed songs to the next level because you could just feel him singing from the bottom of his heart with nothing to lose. On There's No Leaving Now this component is dialed back some as Matsson seems much more relaxed as he delivers the tracks. "1904" is a song that is a bit more upbeat and contains this upper vocal that makes it a highlight while "Wind And Walls" also has some foot tapping moments. There's No Leaving Now also has some excellent slower songs like the title track which not only has Matsson singing along with a piano but its passionate vocal reigns supreme and showcases why The Tallest Man On Earth is in the top tier of a crowded genre.

There's No Leaving Now does not surpass the critical highlights of The Wild Hunt but it is still a very good record. Even though the album lacks a bit of the energy undertone it still is a record that sinks in with repeat listens and becomes quite engaging. The Tallest Man On Earth and Kristian Matsson is at the top of his game and honestly if he never changed I would still be one of the first people up to hear whatever he is going to release next!

Key Tracks: "1904", "Wind And Walls", "There's No Leaving Now"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Woody Guthrie
Davy Graham
Bob Dylan

The Tallest Man On Earth: Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird [EP] [Fire Note Review 9/21/10]
The Tallest Man On Earth: The Wild Hunt [Fire Note Review 4/20/10] [#9 Top 50 of 2010]

The Tallest Man On Earth Facebook
Dead Oceans Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony