Customer Reviews

Draw

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's not so unlikely, is it? A talented kid from South Wales shifts from smashing heads on the football field to writing sensitive songs about life, death, loss and love. Such is the story of Matthew Jay, whose debut album, "Draw," could mellow out any linebacker out there.
Jay's acoustic thumbing and electric ripples create a sound that hovers between the likes of Nick Drake and Coldplay. Weighty words surf on his swift, streamlined beats and wispy melodies. Jay's voice is shy and soft-spoken, hitting each note with robotic precision- almost unfit for the passionate themes of his songs.
But perhaps this wallflower subtlety is what makes the rest of "Draw" so intriguing. Despite his distant whisper, Jay's words are remarkably startling and clever. "You licked the tears right off my face," he chants in the kickoff song, "Let Your Shoulder Fall," while spewing sunshine harmonies and a swiveling beat. Jay's melodic groove continues in the steady "Meteorology," and "You're Always Going Too Soon," a dazed, jittery verse that sounds as lonely as its title.
Throughout "Draw's" cloudy overtones, Jay maintains a paper-cut edge that's lyrically bittersweet. His best work comes from the more experimental tracks: the instrumental "Molasses" is eerie and pushy, "The Clearing" is refreshingly jumpy, and "Please Don't Send Me Away," tackles the theme of "a bloke trying to get into heaven." These would make great blueprints for Jay's future endeavors.
At first listen, "Draw" may seem a bit backgroundish and lost in space. Jay's fading voice often drifts so much that one may wonder if he's left the studio, maybe to take a bath in his own introspectiveness. But whenever the listener hears Jay wander off, he ought to move quickly to catch up. After a few spins, "Draw" becomes wistful, fluid, and surprisingly addictive.

It's not so unlikely, is it? A talented kid from South Wales shifts from smashing heads on the football field to writing sensitive songs about life, death, loss and love. Such is the story of Matthew Jay, whose debut album, "Draw," could mellow out any linebacker out there.
Jay's acoustic thumbing and electric ripples create a sound that hovers between the likes of Nick Drake and Coldplay. Weighty words surf on his swift, streamlined beats and wispy melodies. Jay's voice is shy and soft-spoken, hitting each note with robotic precision- almost unfit for the passionate themes of his songs.
But perhaps this wallflower subtlety is what makes the rest of "Draw" so intriguing. Despite his distant whisper, Jay's words are remarkably startling and clever. "You licked the tears right off my face," he chants in the kickoff song, "Let Your Shoulder Fall," while spewing sunshine harmonies and a swiveling beat. Jay's melodic groove continues in the steady "Meteorology," and "You're Always Going Too Soon," a dazed, jittery verse that sounds as lonely as its title.
Throughout "Draw's" cloudy overtones, Jay maintains a paper-cut edge that's lyrically bittersweet. His best work comes from the more experimental tracks: the instrumental "Molasses" is eerie and pushy, "The Clearing" is refreshingly jumpy, and "Please Don't Send Me Away," tackles the theme of "a bloke trying to get into heaven." These would make great blueprints for Jay's future endeavors.
At first listen, "Draw" may seem a bit backgroundish and lost in space. Jay's fading voice often drifts so much that one may wonder if he's left the studio, maybe to take a bath in his own introspectiveness. But whenever the listener hears Jay wander off, he ought to move quickly to catch up. After a few spins, "Draw" becomes wistful, fluid, and surprisingly addictive.

It's easy to draw comparisons here...but let's just leave that alone. This Debut is a truly great start, and i always hate to predict but i think Matt's here to stay. Well crafted, simple and melodic songs! Thank goodness we're finally ridding ourselves of Nirvana-esque, over-rated, record company produced bands!!!! I honestly was ready to jump off a cliff with that music that has haunted us for too many years... truthfully I'd rather be haunted by talent such as this! Finally, decent songwriting is once again showing its face...and wait a min'...he can sing too! The cover shot reminds me of a young Georgie Harrison!!(Mmmmm!)
BUY IT!

i took a flier on this cd based on an awfully positive review that i'd read about in the london observer - it seemed like a 'can't miss'.

and it was.

smart, melodic, irresistable songwriting - tunes that i'd find myself thinking about well after a listening. and music that's just as fresh after many, many repeated listenings.

groundbreaking? nope. radical and edgy? no, again. but fresh nonetheless.

further proof that sometimes the best suprises aren't prefabricated pseudo-revolutionary music, nor that 'cereal disguised as music' that we're inundated with these days.

try matthew jay - you'll like him. a lot.

THE opening five songs are just tremendous. Matthew Jay, a bright young thing from South Wales is quite an exceptional find. His clever material stands out immediately. Like his contemporaries Ben Christophers (only less glacial) and Elliott Smith (albeit simpler, more varied and tuneful), Jay is a thoroughly modern, traditional songwriter.

Jay's clear, high voice (rather reminiscent to A-ha's Morten Harket) and appealing choruses serve notice of someone who could potentially make it big. Thanks in part to the excellent production, he strikes just the right balance between thoughtfulness and rowdiness to make Draw acceptable at any time of day. For example, You're Always Going Too Soon and Only Meant To Say are as good as anything you'll hear this year.

Admittedly, he isn't doing anything startlingly new and the standard dips in the middle, but overall this is an upbeat, fully realised affair that will take some beating.

Fans of Elliot Smith should check this c.d. out!More of that New Acoustic Movement that seems to be sweeping the music scene in the U.K. right now.Matthew Jay on this debut sounds like he's as good as anything I've heard recently of that particular genre.

The resemblance to Smith on this c.d. is almost uncanny.His vocal style is so similar that it's remarkable.The lyrics are excellent too-generally pretty mellow but they can also be very hard hitting especially in the opening song.It may have acoustic leanings but he uses a full conventional backing band on most of the tracks.He lays all the acoustic and electric guitars but there is also drums,bass,keyboards and piano to be heard.His vocals are fairly gentle but he's pretty accomplished at hitting the low notes and also comfortably reaching a nice falsetto.It's pretty much along the lines of folk/blues.Many of the songs are catchy,but there are also songs of greater depth that only reward the listener after repeated listens.The stand out tracks are song two,Let Your Shoulder Fall and the next track with it's beautiful harmonies in the chorus You're Always Going Too Soon.The 4th song has some excellent electric guitar effects combined with acoustic guitar backing.Then it reaches the more up tempo chorus which you find you wished would just last that little bit longer.Once again the harmonies are really good.The sixth song sounds really like a song The La's might have had if they were still going-again it's a top quality song.The next song is full of shimmering and haunting vocals effects that remind me a of the quieter moments off Doves last c.d.-it's a short but interesting instrumental with a guest female vocalist humming in the background.Track 9 Remember This Feeling has seems to be constantly gaining momentum that starts off very interesting,but unfortunately it's a track that fails to deliver on it's early promise.Track 10-Become Yourself is as loud as this c.d. gets and certainly would not belong in this N.A.M. genre.The chorus fairly rocks with no acousitc to be heard and it's another of my favourite tracks,especially as it's such a good change in mood and sound.Some of the vocals definitely sound like there is a Mc Cartney influence and this is eveident on this track and even more so on the next.The start even sounds like the keyboard of Macca's "Wonderful Christmas Time" song.

Generally I found this to be an excellent debut and a very enjoyable listen from a promising artist.One to watch for the future I think.

I cannot find a link on Amazon to the new album of Matthew Jay's earlier cuts and recordings, Too Soon. But worth checking out I'm sure. 'Draw' has kept me going on many a lonely and wistful night; its vivacity, honesty and beauty is unmatched in many of his peers' music. A real pity that he died so young.

Note to Lee Armstrong, Jay is not an Englishman but a Welshman! A big difference in this small part of the world... Thanks.

I thought "Draw" is going to be an entirely soft-selling stuff (just because of "Please Don't Send Me Away", which I've heard before buying this album--I like that song very much, anyway), but when I got to play this cd, I was in for a bit of surprise. "Draw" is nicely eclectic, and you'll realize it when you listen to it a more number of times. Aside from folk, I can also hear some strains of country, dance music elements, orchestral, electro-pop, a swish of trip-hop and a bit of world music... plus intelligent, sensitive and thought-provoking lyrics and Jay's beautiful voice... "Draw" has nary a dull moment... truly addictive listening. Please, please, please buy this album... you won't get disappointed!

Matthew Jay wrote most of these songs in his bedroom. Success from David Gray's "White Ladder" helped Jay receive a recording contract before he'd even appeared live. "Draw" is a promising debut from this Englishman. Its pop melodies jangle joyfully throughout the CD, consistently engaging. The opener "Let Your Shoulders Fall" sets the pace with full arrangements and an original melody. I have 3 favorites on the disc. "You're Always Going Too Soon" is a pretty midtempo tune where Jay's voice floats into the upper register, "Sometimes life can hold you down; I can see your face as clearly now, today as I could then and it doesn't fade." Psychedelic feedback opens "Call My Name Out" before Martyn Watson's electric guitar blasts through followed by Jay's soft vocals and a thumping bass line, "Love isn't the only thing that's on your mind with that crooked smile." "The Clearing" bops along joyfully with great percussive clicks and clacks throughout on this pretty toe tapper. "Draw" is good throughout, an impressive debut. Enjoy!

I love this album! I bought it on a few recommendations, and it has become one of my favorites. Matthew Jay is a very talented singer/songwriter, and the production of the album is amazing.

The overall feel of the album is very similar to Duncan Sheik's first album. It has the same acoustic foundation and adds layers of music to create a complex yet still quiet and relaxing sound. Besides Sheik, there is also a hint of Nick Drake and even Paul McCartney on some songs (some of the songs sound like McCartney's writing from the mid seventies).

If you like any of the above artists, you will absolutely like this album.