Sometimes the Blues Is Just a Passing Bird

Sweden's Kristian Matsson, aka the Tallest Man on Earth, keeps it sparse with a summertime EP of fingerpicked acoustic guitar and vocals, written on the road just after the release of The Wild Hunt. Comparisons to a young Bob Dylan are common, and in a rustic, intimate setting such as this, the similarities are hard to ignore. Sometimes the Blues Is Just a Passing Bird, Matsson's quietest EP, demonstrates just how powerful a man can be alone with a guitar and a voice. "Little River" and "Thrown at Me" find him at his most near and dear, further validating that there is no need for added frills when someone can perform this tender-heartedly. For a change of pace, there's "The Dreamer," where Matsson trades in his acoustic for an electric, plugged into a reverby amp, without ever breaking from his austere style. ~ Jason Lymangrover