Matt Kollar and the Angry Mob - Farewell Adventure

  by Anthony Middleton

published: 24 / 1 / 2009

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Review

'Farewell Adventure' attempts to capture something of the grass roots of a mythical Americana of hobos, travelling bluesmen and all night diners with a barrage of traditional country and folk songs. It largely succeeds with an ebullience that occasionally threatens to descend into a cacophony, but largely manages to keep an ambitious project under control. I’m not sure if this is a concept album per se, but the opening instrumental (bar a few spoken passages) 'Bon Voyage', sets the scene for an album which is about that most American of themes; the movement of people, whether across the ocean or from East to West. From here the songs are musically varied though with a thematic unity that makes the album work. With its title and references to Californian icons like the Pacific Highway, 'Surf Song' is a rarity in songs heavily influenced (ie copying) ny the Beach Boys later, great works in that it is worthwhile and very good. The obvious harmonies are there, but the sheer energy and changes of gear, along with a genuine sense of innocence that few other than Brian Wilson have achieved make this the highlight of a great album. Elsewhere there appear to be influences of the Eels, particularly in Matt Kollar’s throaty singing voice, especially on 'Beautiful Truth'. The rejection from the standard rock/pop instruments with trumpet, clarinet and accordion brings to mind The Band. While this may not be 'Music From the Big Pink', it does possess some of that album’s wonder in the small stories of everyday American life and it’s majestic landscape. Like The Band there is a dedication to taking traditional country and folk and using it in a way relevant to modern ears. The album’s closing songs, 'The Red Wagon' and 'Farewell Adventure', seem to conclude the theme of travelling and arriving. 'The Red Wagon' is very much a concept album song, a lot of exposition and a simple ensemble chorus and spoken passages. Again this is quite ambitious for a first album, as, on first hearing, it can seem a mess rather than a coherent song. The driving music anchors what could otherwise be a chaotic format. The marching final title song, again features changes of pace as it mounts towards a final folksy crescendo of harmonica and just about everything else the band have in their arsenal. The thing I like about 'Farewell Adventure' is Kollar’s energy and willingness to take risks and surprise the listener. He has gathered a talented band around him uses them to transform songs, which could have been rendered listless otherwise, into what is an accomplished and enjoyable first record.

Track Listing:-

1 Bon Voyage
2 Shipwrecked
3 Suburbia Blues
4 Cartwheels
5 Daydreaming
6 Birds On a May Morning
7 Waiting
8 Beautiful Truth
9 Surf Song
10 Whos Gonna Bring the Sun
11 The Red Wagon
12 Farewell Adventure!