Crys Matthews – Changemakers 
Release Date: Out Now
I’m in love with this album but less
in love with the fact that it needs to exist in 2021 given the content of many
of the songs. Crys Matthews is a resident of DC and, as such, is perfectly poised
to take aim at the political injustices of America and the wider world which is
exactly what she does on this new album, ‘Changemakers’. The opening track, ‘Exactly
Where You Are’, is a wonderfully friendly and charming opening full of country
twangs, harmonica, hand-claps and the kind of welcome that the disenfranchised
and outsider communities need and have had for so long. Title track ‘Changemakers’
name checks “Mr Make-America-Great-Again” with the kind of melodies and vocal
harmonies that would sound perfectly in place on an Indigo Girls album.
‘Time Machine’ continues the strong
start with a rootsy acoustic guitar chug before ‘How Many More?’ hits hard with
a list of those killed before their time set to a simple and moving banjo
melody. We’re already at ‘Call Them In’ and I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned
Matthews’ voice yet which is perfect mix of country and soul with a tinge of controlled
protest anger behind the lyrics. On ‘Prodigal Son’ the wild-west vibes are
strong and you can almost here the cowboy boots in between the low slung guitar
notes while ‘Safe’ has an intimate, Ben Harper-esque feel to it with the heavy
organs, loose drums and tight guitar playing. ‘Signs of the Times’ is a tale of
the times as Matthews sings of marches, a corrupt congress and the general
malaise that faces America in 2020/21.
As the album enters the final
third, ‘This Kind of War’ gently arrives with the line “he’s got a whole in his
heart where his daughter used to be” and you can’t help but be instantly stopped
in your tracks. The gentle and undulating melody has a dark underbelly but the
story is full of sadness and struggle and that sort of sums Crys Matthews up –
beautiful melodies and no fear of tackling the hard stories. ‘For the Women
with Steel in Their Bones’ follows with a lighter spirit but an appropriately
steely look in the eyes as this folky slice of Americana implores men to treat
women better as a matter of course, not as the exception.
Penultimate track ‘Selfless’ gives
everyone who has survived the last 12 months an arm around the shoulder with
the warmest of instruments – the steel guitar. The album closes out on the
perfectly optimistic ‘Hope Revolution’ which holds a fist in the air in support
of so many great causes (from Gay Pride to BLM and everything in between) and
that is the overriding message from this album. Yes, times have been hard, the
world is about as messed up as it’s been in living memory and there is division
everywhere you look but in spite of all of this there is still hope, still optimism
and still positivity out there so let’s recognise the bad, learn from it,
remember those we have lost and then make this world a better place.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/crysmatthewsmusic