Customer Reviews

Two Shots

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Matt Dusk scores big again with his album entitled Two Shots; and he more than proves he's worth his weight in gold. Matt's voice is in excellent form and it's truly like a finely tuned instrument; I rarely hear and enjoy a male vocalist as proficient as Matt is! The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is nicely done as well.

The album begins with "Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad;" the key modulations are excellent; Matt switches between minor and major keys to make this number a strong beginning tune fort his album. Matt swings gently to make this a really fine ballad and the music that accompanies Matt never drowns him out while still adding a lot to the tune. "Miracle" is a sprightly little tune with lots of pep; and Matt sings this with lots of positive energy; Matt's voice is smooth as silk and he never sounded better! It's numbers like "Miracle" that tell me this guy's going to be around for a real long while!

"Cold as Ice" is a fine torch song that features Matt Dusk squarely front and center--and that's all right by me! Matt massages the lyrics to this song with panache and he never sings a superfluous note, either! I am very impressed with Matt's work on "Cold As Ice;" and I predict that you're going to like this very much if you like contemporary pop vocals. In addition, "Lonely Road" again features Matt singing--this time of his one true love; he hates to be away from her. Will his character find her again? Listen to the song--maybe there's an answer and maybe there's not.

"Don't Go Looking" has Matt Dusk swinging gently again to make this number shine brighter than silver and gold! Matt really delivers this with all his heart and soul; he delves deeply into this song to make it all his own and it works well for both him and "Don't Go Looking." Similarly, "Fly Me To The Moon" showcases Matt's talents very nicely; and I believe that "Fly Me To The Moon" is a major highlight of this album. The musical arrangement is part smooth jazz and part R&B; so expect "Fly Me To The Moon" to be a very fine number you'll never get tired of hearing.

"Please Please Me" is a good cover of a Beatles song; although the Amazon website says this is a weaker number it has its own strength; Matt just slows down the tempo a whole lot to place a more romantic, smoother spin onto this tune; it's no longer a rock song the way The Fab Four sang it. There's no right or wrong here; but you may like "Please Please Me" just as much as I did. "Always" has a lush musical arrangement; and listen for Matt to outdo even himself on "Five." The album also ends very smoothly with Matt Dusk singing "Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad" all over again--with maybe a few changes in that arrangement to let you decide if you like the first version or the second version better! I like the first version; but again there's no right or wrong here.

Matt Dusk really did some great work on this album; it's a joy to hear him sing. I highly recommend this for his fans and people who like contemporary pop vocals will enjoy this album as well.

I had been eagerly anticipating the release of Two Shots for some time after hearing Matt Dusk on a jazz compilation. When it finally arrived, I popped it into my CD player and listened to the album twice - from beginning to end.

While I love the richness and texture of Matt Dusk's voice, his phrasing and singing at times were a bit shakey - like he was trying to hard for Sinatra-esque swing and swagger. I found some of the original compositions to be a bit schmaltzy, the interpretation of 'Please, Please Me' to be grating, and the dance remix to be completely unnecessary.

Perhaps, this is a CD to be put away on a shelf and re-discovered at a latter date. Regardless, I look forward to Dusk's 2nd album because it can only get better.

His voice is good, but I have a problem with "artists" who use drum machines and synths instead of living, breathing, musicians. That's part of what makes this feel so cold. It's like listening to that guy on Open Mic Night who gets up there with similar backup. Using a machine just sounds too tight. Not what you want when it comes to jazz/lounge. You want to hear things like a slight pause in the fans on a snare. Subtle things are what matter. If I HAD to pick a "new crop crooner", I'd probably go listen to a little more Michael Buble. Sure, his remakes of some tunes, just don't fit, but the ones that work have a sizzle and genuiness not felt here.

Good looking Matt Dusk disappointed me with this cd. With his picture and the title Two Shots I had anticipated something much better. The voice is ok, but the style just doesn't seem suited for him. I judged a book by it's cover and I shouldn't have.

Matt Dusk is a good singer with a voice that has a neutral effect on you. It is not the type of talent that gives you goose bumps. Some of the reviewers do not have musically-tuned ears to make a judgment about his talent. If you want to hear music that makes you say "WOW!" at the end of every song, you can simply listen to the real thing: Sinatra that is!

I really don't know what the rest of you are listening to but,he sounds NOTHING like Sinatra whatsoever. His voice is neither WARM nor smooth. I'm glad I didn't buy this album (borrowed from a friend), it was a complete let down. I was expecting more genuine feeling and emotion expressed in the music but found NONE of that. What I did find was a second rate, over engineered boring lounge act that caught a lucky break on a reality show.[geez...was that a synthesizer I heard in there?!] Peter Cincotti is just a notch below Dusk in the wannabe crooner catalogue. If you want to listen to a Canadian crooner with real talent and vocal ability, try Michael Buble whom I've grown to love...something hard to say after being an avid Harry Connick, Jr. fan for over 16 years. Please save your money and don't by a Matt Dusk album...it's not worth the jewel case it came in.

Now that Sinatra is gone and Tony Bennett, while still a terrific singer, is well into his seventies, it's great that singers like Michael Buble and Matt Dusk have come along.

The voice is terrific, and he really gets into these songs, most of which are new to me. Like Sinatra and Bennett, he makes each song a personal drama. Also like them, he has a terrific ability to express emotion with his voice and his interpretations. Yet he is his own person, doing things his own way, and not a pale imitation of anybody, past or present.

For a singer this young to sing with such assurance and artistry is remarkable. I'd love to hear him record an album of standards.

While this CD is well-done technically, both in terms of the music and singing, there is a haunting hollowness to Dusk's singing. Through simply attempting to emulate Sinatra, he rarely finds his own voice and his own feelings, hence the hollowness. In the creative arts, strict imititation (as we have it here) is not a form of flattery, but simply reflects a lack of a creative self... This is more about music industry marketing than the music, which is truly sad. My advice: Digg out some real Frank Sinatra or Ray Charles or explore some authentic modern singer-songwriter artists (e.g., Ben Foulds, Bruck Cockburn, Elliot Smith). Cheers!

Bought the entire album offf iTunes- so it's not really a CD, but I love it. I have to say Matt Dusk is one of my favourite discoveries for 2004. I love the track "Don't Go Looking For" His voice is amazing rich, you almost coyuldn't believe that he is that young.

Hello.Thank you for taking the time to consider popular opinion when it comes to the fate of the matt dusk cds.I will get straight to the facts.This cd is awesome.Matt dusk is a 25 year old handsome man with a velvet sinatra like voice.The fact is, the music on the radio today is not melodic and makes me feel like a confused fish in water.Matt has opened the door again to the old days.Simple times when people were people and music moved your soul.He does have life and energy and his own style.Even in the case of the standards, he has rejuvinated them with his own unique turn of a lyric.He is also wonderful in concert.I have heard him sing acapella and he has nothing to hide.He could sing the weather report and we'd all melt.The point is, if you want some classy, romantic music to have on during a calming bath or to blend with a delicious dinner, or to keep you company on a long road trip... This album is perfect.Give it a chance, you won't be sorry and hopefully we'll see you back here to check out his other cd's...like the new " peace on earth " holiday cd released today.....Enjoy.....Heather, age 27, los angeles,ca