Some Mad Hope

Matt Nathanson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 14, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B000RHRFVI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,181 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #84 in Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk > Singer-Songwriters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With rapturous romanticism and over-the-top, heart-on-sleeve emotion, Matt Nathanson can't decide whether he wants to be U2's Bono (particularly on the opening "Car Crash") or John Mayer (with whom he's toured as an opening act). Though his roots are in the folk coffeehouse, he plainly has his ears aimed toward the rock arena, as the propulsive "To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts" and "Detroit Waves" attest. "Wedding Dress" sounds like it's aspiring to become a first-dance standard, while the sensuality of "Come On Get Higher" suggests more stripped-down delights. A couple of lines here compete for the album's cheesiest: "C'mon let's make this dream that's barely half-awake come true" (from "Heartbreak World") and "What happened to feeling cheap radio songs?" (from "Bulletproof Weeks"). --Don McLeese

Product Description

"Nathanson has offered an album so solid, so addicting, so enduring on repeat listens that it will quickly become the soundtrack of your late summer."
Blogcritics

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nathanson Completes his Masterpiece with "Some Mad Hope" August 14, 2007

By Michael Yovkovich VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

For those of you who don't know who Matt Nathanson is, you're not alone, but in all honesty, you should be. Perhaps one of the most underrated singer/songwriters of his time, Nathanson has built up his fan base in a grass roots manner with amazing live shows and extremely powerful music. If the only song you know from him is his cover of James' hit "Laid" from the American Wedding soundtrack, consider yourself Matt deprived. His previous effort, and major label debut "Beneath These Fireworks," released in 2003, has an amazing array of beautifully done tunes, showcasing Nathanson's maturation both vocally and lyrically. With "Some Made Hope," Nathanson sets the bar even higher with songs ranging from searing emotional ballads to stadium rockers. The album plays out as such.

1. Car Crash- 9/10
The first single released and a great way to start the album. This uptempo rock song will have you singing along to the catchy chorus in no time.

2. Come on Get Higher- 10/10
One of the best songs on the album. Beautifully written. Amazon speaks of cheesy lines in his music review, I couldn't disagree more. Here's an excerpt from this song.

"I miss the sound of your voice, I miss the rush of your skin,
And I miss the still of the silence, As you breathe out and I breathe in."

3. Heartbreak World- 7/10
A solid midtempo song, backed mostly by piano and acoustic guitar.

4. Gone- 8/10
A wonderful midtempo ballad, great lyrics, Nathanson shines vocally on this tune.

5. Wedding Dress- 10/10
Another midtempo ballad that may just be the best song on the album. As Nathanson battles with his own doubts about his forthcoming marriage, you can feel the emotion in his voice pouring out....

"In your wedding dress, to have and to hold,
Even at my best, I want to let go."

6. Bulletproof Weeks- 10/10
A beautiful stripped down ballad about a relationship that was thought to be so strong that nothing could ever harm it, but in the end, it did not last, leaving Nathanson to ask "So what happened to bulletproof weeks in your arms?" An amazing song that I'm sure anyone who has been in a relationship that they never thought would end but did can relate to.

7. To The Beat of Our Noisy Hearts- 7/10
Nathanson picks up the pace on this solid uptempo track showing off his rock n roll side.

8. Still- 8/10
A catchy midtempo tune with solid backing vocals.

9. Detroit Waves- 8/10
An uptempo rocking song. Matt really lets it rip on this track.

10. Falling Apart- 8/10
A solid piano driven midtempo song with a catchy chorus and great verses to go along with it.

11. Sooner Surrender- 7/10
A sweet ballad with a nice tempo.

12. All We Are- 8/10
A reflective song to close the album. This is a solid tune, with some great lyrics within it.

With "Some Mad Hope," Matt Nathanson furthers his quest to become one of the greatest singer/songwriters of his time. Whether he will ever be held in such regard is unknown, but if it was up to this reviewer, he would be near the top of the list. If you haven't seen his live show, do yourself a favor and go. Not only are his songs amazing, but Nathanson is also one of the most sincere and humorous acts touring today. He'll have you laughing and crying, and I guarantee you by the end of his set, you will have the utmost respect for this gifted musician. Matt Nathanson may not be a household name, but he should be. Read more ›

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best CD to Date. A Must Have for Any Music Lover. August 31, 2007

By Matthew W. Paradise

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had heard most of these songs from his concert and bootlegs, but unlike his last ...Fireworks CD these tracks are just as good as their live versions.

Make no mistake though, it's not because they sound the same. They sound totally different. A Matt show has all the great acoustic comforts of an intimate coffee shop, personal musical outpouring, accompanied with great crowd rapport and overall fun. This CD captures the essence of what makes those Matt live songs so great, takes it, refines it, shines it and purifies it, bottling it up in a nice package for us to consume at home, all without the loss of any of the elements that make his live songs so great. And the additives, while noticed, go well with the traditional raw Matt Nathanson flavor we've all come to to know, love and even get addicted to.

If you love acoustic coffee shop style heartfelt music, then you will love this CD. When you go to the concert and hear the songs live later on you will enjoy them even more.

I am thrilled that the production version came out so well.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Album to Date August 14, 2007

By L. Yamada

Format:Audio CD

While amazing live, Matt Nathanson's studio albums have lacked the passion that he puts into his live shows. His major label debut, Beneath These Fireworks, was a good try but every time I listen to it, I feel like there's something missing. In Some Mad Hope, he comes the closest to capturing the passion that has fans flocking to his live shows.

The album isn't nearly as bad as Amazon.com's Don McLeese makes it out to be. Don't let this misinformed review deter you from checking out the album yourself. 'Wedding Dress' is not "aspiring to become a first-dance standard." It's a song about divorce. Anyone who picks it for a first dance is completely misguided.

The lyrics to the chorus of 'All We Are' are not "and every day's a star/something beautiful." It's "every day's the start of something beautiful." Still cheesy? Contestable. But for me, the lyrics "Went broke believing that the simple should be hard" make up for the chorus. With Nathanson's songwriting, for every possibly cheesy lyric there is an equally cool one (ie. "You know I'll still say your name to fall asleep/Over and over/A cynic saying rosary/A liar living make believe" - 'Detroit Waves').

The lyrics from 'Bulletproof Weeks' are not "What happened to feeling cheap radio songs?" either. I'm not saying that I know more than McLeese, but his review could really have used some simple double checking. [...] would have fixed these mistakes right away.

The album does have weak moments ('Come On Get Higher' doesn't quite get to the level it promises to) but there are a lot of good things about it. It's a big step forward for Nathanson - though, in order to really get an understanding of him, it's necessary to see him live.

My favorite tracks: 'Heartbreak World,' 'Still,' 'Falling Apart'

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A sophisticated Matt, glorious, emotional and wonderful September 23, 2007

By Emily E. Brown VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

It shows that Matt took a while to write and develop this album. The finished product is amazingly smooth, emotional, and whole. There's a range of sound, from his approach to doing a song in styling of one of his greater influences, to the simple yet beautiful acoustic guitar along to which Matt sings sweetly and convincingly. If you're a Matt Nathanson fan, then you probably already know this is a "must have" to add to your collection. If you're new to Matt Nathanson, this is a great introduction, which will make you want to hear all of his other amazing albums.