Some Mad Hope

Matt Nathanson might look like your typical, earnest singer/songwriter guy but underneath the surface there's enough depth for this nice guy to go all the way.

You might call Some Mad Hope Nathanson's transition album, from wide-eyed young man to his more mature phase, but that's not to say that his boyish charms have worn off; rather, he's grown into a free-spirited songman.

Originally from Boston and settling in San Francisco, Nathanson has traversed the clubs and coffeehouses of the country, polishing his songs and performance chops into the shiny and sharp instruments they are today. He is assisted by a gang of musicians in the studio who complement the sound he's built from the ground up. Though his most immediate vocal comparison is Bono, Nathanson's his own musician, with his own style and his own concerns on his mind, though it's clear from his big, ringing songstyle that's heavy on the anthemic choruses, that he has stadium dreams. This might just be the album that introduces him to the wider audiences he's seeking as he captures the excitement he brings to the stage and translates it via studio means.

"Car Crash" sounds like it's about the need to feel something when you can no longer feel anything. "Come on Get Higher" uses a percussive groove alongside its acoustic strums to get inside its melody.

"Heartbreak World" sounds like an urgent message for those who've been downed by difficult circumstances to get back into the stream of life. "Falling Apart" is another song of hope with melodic and lyrical twists and tangles that echo times of difficulty.

"Wedding Dress" is a subtle, down tempo love dream. "Bulletproof Weeks" is another subtle mood piece, with shifting musical dynamics on full display. And "Still" is another lovely melody in the mellower mode.

"To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts" has an '80s pop feel. "Detroit Waves" has a similar edginess to it; the totally '80s sound refuses to die!

"All We Are" is the album's sweet closer. Nathanson ties things up nicely in this folk-rock, easy to singalong to tune. And now that the secret's out about Nathanson, it's only a matter of time before he'll be reaching the world with his heartfelt songs.

By Danielle Santiago