Track Listing

1. Little Man Tabla Jam, Pt. 1
2. Dream Song
3. Fool's Fooling Himself
4. Eyes Wider Than Before
5. Blue in the Face Again
6. Sweet Scented Figure
7. Passing Stranger
8. Prayers
9. Musical Interval
10. Still Fooling
11. City Headache
12. Nylon Instrumental
13. Elusive
14. Earth to Calm
15. White Feathered Medicine
16. Little Man Tabla Jam, Pt. 2
17. Bruno's Finale

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89980 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-11
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Scott Matthews strikes and awes. His blues-tinged folk songs won over not only influential UK radio DJ's including Zane Lowe, Mark Radcliffe and Jo Wiley, but also inspired an early listener to create a label to release his incredible debut, Passing Stranger. Recently, the Wolverhampton songsmith won the prestigious Ivor Novello award in the Best Song Musically and Lyrically category for his atmospheric, spine-tingling single "Elusive", beating out Arctic Monkeys & Nerina Pallot.

The multitude of acclaim received for "Elusive" should by no means distract from the fact that in Passing Stranger Scott has crafted a beautiful, evoking and full album. Much of what makes Passing Stranger such a stunning debut is its variety. From the driving blues groove of 'Sweet Scented Figure,' to the somber yet gorgeous weaving of hushed vocals and soft guitar notes on "Earth to Calm," Passing Stranger contains diversity and great imagination.

-Q Magazine
"...the most promising home-grown singer-songwriter to emerge in years; a man whose acrobatic voice marks him out as a British Jeff Buckley."

-THE SUN
"It's no exaggeration to say Scott Matthews is probably the most exciting face of West Midland's music since Robert Plant brought his hammer of the gods vocal style to Led Zeppelin."

Customer Reviews

Gotta have it
Surprised this hasn't caught on in the States yet. A great talent and excellent album. You won't be disappointed.

A refreshing discovery
As someone who has collected the litany of live and unreleased Jeff Buckley recordings to satisfy my appreciation for his music and personality, I often feel a hole in that genre of music in which he dwelled. Somewhere in the cracks of blues, alternative, and gospel often with an Indian tint.

This weekend I stumbled across Scott Matthews, who is likened to JB in nearly every review. After listening to his album, 'Passing Stranger', I understand why. The vocals are nothing compared to Jeff's (slim chance of finding that), but you can tell this guy has the same influences. Whether it's hints of Robert Johnson's guitar work or the mantric tablas present on half of the tracks, this appears to be an extension of Jeff's work. I'm not that into The Zep, but even my inexperienced ear can discern their taste in these songs. He's even opening for Robert Plant right now.

Admittedly, it's not a perfect album. Some songs reek of your local adult alternative radio station, and he seems to lack Buckley's edge. But I still found this album refreshing. Every few songs are spaced by a brief instrumental interlude, which doesn't break down the flow of the album at all, but rather acts to transition between the end of one idea and the beginning of another.

Just try listening to the main riff in 'City Headache' without your mind beginning to play 'So Real'.

Also, the album is streaming in its entirety at several websites for free (at the time of posting), so you should be able to get a good sample.

RIYL: Grace, Till the Sun Turns Black, Fight for Your Mind

What a nice debut!
And, what a great CD from a new singer/songwriter!

My local "Triple AAA" public radio station has been playing "The Fool's Still Fooling Himself" for quite awhile, and Scott's voice just hooked me from the first time I heard it.

I also hear a lot of Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake going on here, but I'm also catching a lot of songwriting influences from early Richard Thompson and Mark Knopfler.

"Passing Stranger" has a very autumnal "grown-up" feel to it, which I think makes it a perfect companion to the recent releases by Mark Knopfler and Joni Mitchell.

It's an absolute pleasure to hear this level of songwriting and musicianship from someone so young.

As Mark would say, "Oh, yeah, the boy can play!"

Indeed, he can. He writes some damn good songs, too.