ROCKING THE BOAT

posted in: Artist Features • Rock

Matt Mays thinks about love, sure. Only sometimes the object of his affection is a boat. Or the trees that hang over the road while he’s driving. But just when you think he’s just not that into you, he redirects his focus, tells you your boyfriend is a dick and invites you to go listen to music in his car.

At least that’s how things go on his new record, Terminal Romance. Far from being a collection of songs about love-gone-wrong, the Halifax songwriter avoids the predictable and delivers a confident, diverse rock sampler. These days, Mays”formerly a member of the seminal alt-country group, The Guthries”can be found in the company of his backing band, El Torpedo. Together they churn out anything from staccato rockers with whiffs of The Ramones (Rock Ranger Record) to epic heartland rock tailor-made for afternoon drives (Tall Trees). Mays is always going to garner comparisons to Tom Petty and Ryan Adams, but he’s got his own ideas on how love and rock-n-roll should harmonize. And it’s a message worth hearing.