Under Summer Sun

Matt Wertz | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2008)
• Original Release Date: September 16, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Universal Records
• ASIN: B001COVD9U
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,799 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

There's nothing like the feel of a favorite old t-shirt paired with a worn-in pair of jeans. Some of the best things in life move into their prime as they age, making them more enjoyable, more valuable. And so it is with the music of Matt Wertz, a handsome Missouri-born soulful rocker who has been splitting time between his home in Nashville and hundreds of stages around the world for the past six years. His latest offering, Everything In Between, displays a patina that prompts an even deeper appreciation of his music than initially seemed possible. Everything In Between is full of vivid snapshots from every landmark along his two-year journey through love, questions, pain, and healing. "This record stems from relationships and heartbreak, but ultimately I'm grateful for everything that happened, because I learned who I am through the process of making this record," Wertz says. And while the process was born out of a difficult journey, the result is an eclectic and energetic album, delivered smoothly and with confidence. As a whole, Everything is seamless and cohesive, but each song varies in color enough to make it unique from the others, beautiful in its own way. The songs on Everything In Between possess that familiar, worn-in feel, which makes them easy to fall in love with at first listen. From the effortless groove of the opening guitar riff on "The Way I Feel" to the addictive hooks of "Heartbreaker" and "Like the Last Time," the entire album is road-trip worthy, changing gears and sliding into place with the easy flow his fans have come to expect. Honesty is another thing he has always worked hard to present, and he pulls back the curtain even further on "I Will Not Take My Love Away," revealing a wisdom that belies his 27 years. "More than any other song on my album, that song is truth," he says. "It's about unconditional love, a love that is bigger than any of us. We all know it's out there, but we keep looking for it in the wrong places. It's a song I need to listen to and receive from every day." Wertz is proficient at turning life's lessons into a beautiful soundtrack, but he has a natural way of moving through those serious moments to a place where he can relax in the simplicity of life. He loves to laugh, and he has a guy-next-door charm coupled with movie star charisma that draws people to him. Chances are, if there is a group of people, and there is a sound system, then a Michael Jackson album will be playing, and Wertz will be in the middle of the room, on the floor, dancing. It's no surprise that many of his friends wanted to accompany him in making Everything In Between. They gathered around him for the recording process, headed by producer Ed Cash, who worked with him on his second album Twenythree Places (2003), and the Today & Tomorrow EP (2005). The result is his best album to date, one that will undeniably find a place at the top of the playlists of his ever-increasing fan base, which has largely grown by word of mouth. When artists reach the level of success that Wertz has, they often use that platform to garner a record deal with a major label. But as his career has grown, so has his confidence in the independent machine that fuels it. "I love being independent," Wertz says. "If I succeed or fail, it's not based upon someone else's decisions, but my own. I like the freedom and ownership that comes from keeping things small and in-house." It's clear that Wertz, just like his latest album, has realized the potential that comes with the benefit of time and will catch the attention of everyone who comes within earshot of his music.

Product Description

The 2008 album by Matt Wertz is Under Summer Sun and it is a combination of his favorite songs from his first few independent releases, like "5:19" and "Everything's Right," as well as four new songs. Among the new tracks are "Waiting," an introspective bedroom song that deals with the fear that he is "growing old but not quite growing up," and "Summer Sun," his best effort at a nostalgic summer love song, as he puts it 'in the vein of Stevie Wonder musically and Don Henley emotionally. And the rest of the songs will strike a chord with anyone who enjoys soulful, carefree, singer-songwriter pop music.' Enjoy!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good music, but Recycled Songs, October 31, 2009

By 

James Husted - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Under Summer Sun (Audio CD)

This album appears to have been released little over a year and a half after the last album "Everything in Between."

The music is great, however you will notice that of the 12 songs on this CD, five (5) are from the first CD:
The Way I Feel; Carolina; 5:19; I Will Not Take My Love Away; and With You, Tonight.


Still love the music, I think he's a great artist and his songs are well written and performed, but I sorta wish it wasn't half recycled stuff.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Summer Sun Shines in Matt's World, September 30, 2008

By 

Alicia Atwood (La Porte, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Under Summer Sun (Audio CD)

I pre-ordered this CD, and it was in my mailbox when I came home from evacuating from Ike. And I haven't stopped listening to it since. It is an amazing CD. Matt seems to play the music that everyone can relate to. "5:19" is a song I sing EVERY TIME I look at the clock and see it's the 19th minute of any hour (I've even caught a couple of 5:19's... and I have the song stuck in my head the rest of the day). "Keep Faith" is my fav of Matt's new attempts at what he does best: write and sing music, and he does an amazing job on this song. As I have all the CDs, you think I'd be angry half of the songs are songs we've heard before...but the opposite is true! I was ESPECIALLY pleased to see "I Will Not Take My Love Away", since that is hands-down my favorite Matt song of all. If you still need convincing that the stuff on this album is good, "I Will Not Take My Love Away" is even my wedding song. Is that proof enough? Bottom line: BUY THIS CD. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep on Strummin' Matt!, August 6, 2010

By 

Tamara D Robinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Under Summer Sun (MP3 Download)

I was in Pier 1 Imports last night and heard this song (Summer Sun) playing in the store that I just fell in love with! I actually wrote down the name of the song, so I wouldn't forget (being middle-aged and all, ha!). I checked the web site this morning and this is incredible music - it reminds me of Gerry Rafferty and Rupert Holmes somewhat (did I say I was middle-aged?). Like another reviewer, I don't understand why Wertz isn't all over the airwaves! He should be! Keep it comin' Matt!