Songs We Sing

Matt Costa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 26, 2005)
• Original Release Date: July 12, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Venerable Media
• ASIN: B000ACJHIY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,753 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Yellow Taxi

2. Astair

3. Oh Dear

4. Cold December

5. Desire's Only Fling

6. Sweet Rose

7. Songs We Sing

8. Sunshine

9. Whiskey And Wine

10. Shimmering Fields

11. Behind The Moon

12. Wash Away

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Sincere but not too sincere, cute but not gorgeous, and smart enough to know to steal from the very best, former skateboard pro Matt Costa signed to surfer Jack Johnson's label on the strengths of some very workman-like pop songs and a smooth, appealing voice. Goldilockses of the world are bound to find Costa's unassuming songs just right--and if his work fails to find its way onto the soundtracks of all the hottest television shows, there is little justice in the world. Costa may croon that "These are the songs that I sing/To make the day better," but these really aren't songs so much as they're rock & roll equations. The dude combines the anglophilic sonority of Belle & Sebastian and Donovan with a taste of Elliott Smith's gorgeous downer vibe, heaping doses of the Beatles thrown in throughout. It's pleasantly chiming enough stuff to be sure: it'll just be far more interesting to see what happens once Costa has worked his way through his influences. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

Songs We Sing is a winding collection, running the stylistic and historic gamut of pop music; hues of ragtime, folk, psychedelia, country, and classical music are cast liberally across the album. Songs We Sing recalls a time when America was under the spell of such UK imports as Donovan and Van Morrison.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a surfing musician - a skateboarding one, May 18, 2006

By 

Folk Fan (Orange County, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs We Sing (Dig) (Audio CD)

This album is almost the same as the earlier, independent release, with a few different songs. Somehow, it's even better. Although "Whiskey and Wine" is missed, the album has better flow and quality throughout. Costa has a diverse style that is interlaces with adolescent optimism and energy - and that's adolescent in the best of ways - when every new experience was still exciting.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best album I bought last year, January 9, 2007

By 

J. Nisbet (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs We Sing (Dig) (Audio CD)

I bought dozens and dozens of CDs last year and Costa's Songs We Sing was my favorite acquisition. If you're enjoying that trendy, troubadour sound of barefoot, pensive guys strumming their accoustic guitars to licks that hook you, this is as upbeat, clear, and good-mood-provoking as they come. A friend and peer of Jack Johnson's, Costa is coming into his own a bit less produced (very welcome, indeed!). His melodies stick with you. I'm looking forward to more great stuff from Costa.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Will Scream About this Album from the Roof Tops, November 19, 2005

By 

C. B. Alder "CB" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs We Sing (Audio CD)

Matt Costa riecently toured with Jack Johnson, but when placed by side by side, Matt Costa has a unique sound from Jack. He spans the whole gammit of sounds with in the acoustic guitar genre. Each song is diverse from the last, and his influences clearly range from, the Beatles to Elliot Smith to Bob Dylan. This is an album that is a must have. Costa is putting out tons of material most notably his newest EP, which can be ordered on his websight [...]. It is incredible with all new tracks from the recordings of the "Songs We Sing" album. It proves that Costa is an incredible song writer, and hopefully is here to stay!