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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MATTHEW LOGAN VASQUEZ – LIGHT’N UP

Matthew Logan Vasquez

Matthew Logan Vasquez
Light’n Up
Dine Alone Records

With a range of meandering styles, fine crafted lyrics, playful melodies, and a excellent of story-telling, Light’n Up shows Mathew Logan Vasquez’s most mature and varied collection to date. 

Light’n Up shows the former Delta Spirit singer-songwriter strutting with confidence, charm, and intimate storytelling. Styles here range from quick tempo festival-ready numbers, a piano-accordion number,to a few deeply personal and folk acoustic songs.  With the acoustically-arranged “Ballad In My Bed”, Light’n Up opens somewhat unexpectedly with a intimate lyrics and soothing vocal duet harmonies.

It’s not all slow; on the glowing guitar melody of “Trail Park,” Vasquez showcases bright and lush rock ‘n‘roll arrangements over an energetic tempo; the lead single “Vacation” is also a buzzing, summery affair with a highly catchy melody. The next song switches up the tempo for a self-explanatory “I Love My Boy,” alluding to Vasquez’s happy home life. “Poor Kids,” a drifting, piano lead number has contemplative and dreamy instrumental sections.  Throughout the record, aspects of his emo past still resonate through Vasquez’s contemporary, finely-tuned musicianship.

The pair of acoustic-led folk songs are the album’s strongest points with Light’n Up’s last track “Oslo”,an autobiographical tune about family illness  : “There ain’t no bridge just a canyon in my mind / I have never been this lonely,” The unexpectedly emotional departure is what makes the album’s finale all the more convincing.



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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MATTHEW LOGAN VASQUEZ – LIGHT’N UP

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The Spill Magazine is a Toronto-based online publication dedicated to covering the independent music scene with a strong focus on our thriving hometown talent. Our writers bring you up-to-date news, in-depth features on musicians and reviews for the latest CD releases. We also travel to the front lines for all local festivals including Canadian Music Week and North by Northeast. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for all daily Spill updates.
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