Matt Nathanson, an American singer-songwriter, is known for writing songs with a blend of folk and rock music. In addition to singing, he plays acoustic (usually a twelve-string) and electric guitar, and has played both solo and with a full band. Nathanson has become more known for his platinum-selling song, “Come on Get Higher,” off his sixth studio album, Some Mad Hope (2007). He has recently released his seventh album, Modern Love, on June 21, 2011, which will be the second album under Vanguard Records, following his success with his last album. He released the first single from the album, “Faster,” as a free download to his fan mailing list in March.

Nathanson sat down with Spinner to chat about touring with Sugarland, leaving major label Universal, and the inspiration for his new album. Describing his album, Nathanson states that it’s a bunch of short stories about people he knew and of himself.

“Right before I started writing for the record, I felt like everybody I know went into crisis,” Nathanson said. “Either [they] were having affairs or were getting divorced … there were all these sort of volatile things happening. So, all the songs are sort of informed by that idea.”

He started with the idea of keeping a groove steady throughout a song. He said that he “wanted things to breathe and hang off these songs in a way that defied the fact that they were written on an acoustic guitar.”

The lead single, “Faster,” has a bubbly, burst of energy and sound, while talking about the heart beating faster and the excitement of love. As stated in the chorus—“You make my heart beat faster/Own me, you own/you rattle my bones/you turn me over and over/’til I can’t control myself” –this is definitely a love song, but filled with craze and passion. His second track “Run,” which features Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, shows the singer-songwriter’s sexier, romantic side. In the opening lyrics, — “I wanna watch you undress/I wanna watch you glow/let hair down, all around/and cover us both,” — just proves his ability to sing romantically. The combination of his vocals with Nettles’ intensifies the song’s overall chemistry and emotional connection.

Entertainment Weekly gave the album a 67, stating that this is “more of the inoffensive same [type of music] from the friendly folk-popper.” This score does not give justice to this album. The songs may as well be the summer’s theme songs. With provocative lyrics, Modern Love is the album to be played all summer long, to dance to, and to continue to enjoy all types of love.

Track List
1. Faster
2. Modern Love
3. Love Comes Tumbling Down
4. Room at the End of the World
5. Kiss Quickly
6. Mercy
7. Kept
8. Run (feat Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of Sugarland)
9. Queen of (K)nots
10. Drop to Hold You
11. Bottom of the Sea

Image Courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/mattnathanson?sk=photos

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