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press |
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about Ballad of America "Gold-throated
troubador Matthew Sabatella was born to make an album like Ballad
of America." "...when
he bangs out chords on his chocolate-brown acoustic guitar and sings deeply
into the mike, his songs begin to soar." "Ballad
of America is an important and enjoyable way to learn and remember
American history. Matthew's arrangements and deep, rich voice brings these
olds songs to life." Matthew
Sabatella's Ballad
of America has been a wonderful audio accompaniment to the artworks
reflecting the American experience in Miami Art Museum's presentation
of the exhibit American Tableaux: Many Voices, Many Stories.
The selections fill a void in the historical/musical education of young
people today. Culturally significant and often rare, Matthew's appealing
renditions help preserve traditional folk songs while entertaining listeners
of all ages with his knowledge and talent. |
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about A Walk in the Park A
Walk in the Park: Album of the Year (Winner) / Matthew Sabatella
- Best Songwriter (Nominee) "Miami-based
singer-songwriter Sabatella blurs the line between roots-rock and Brit-pop
on his latest album. The online record label owner and indie rock veteran
crafts guitar melodies with the punch of XTC and the beauty of Big Star...
overall, the Floridian has created a stylistically diverse and appealing
sophomore release." “Stately
and subdued tunes like "Wrecking Ball" set the stage for some nice, melancholy,
rainy-Sunday-afternoon listening. Occasionally, the pulse quickens into
something like "She Knows," a sly rocker redolent of old R.E.M. "Bad Dream"
is the epitome of sparkling urban-folk, and "Washington Square," with
a crazy, carnival-ride organ solo, is classically smooth. Nice stuff --
captivating from start to finish.” "Radio-ready
without being radio-lame, Sabatella’s songs don’t shy from the clingy
hook or the subtle melody, recalling the work of such all-stars as Matthew
Sweet, Ben Folds and Liz Phair. The deep-voiced, acoustic guitar-playing
Sabatella can be disarmingly personal, but he’s also quite willing to
rock out, as evidenced by his dynamic new CD, A Walk in the Park,
which features bassist Debbie Duke and drummers Gary Norton and Mitchell
Gurdjian." "...A
Walk in the Park is deceptively named. Sabatella, a veteran of the
region’s indie-rock community, takes the listener through some very dark
corridors with music ranging from bright and Beatlesque to blacker than
Bob Mould. " "Broward-based
rocker Matthew Sabatella vies with (Magda) Hiller and three others for
best songwriter (Florida Music Awards). Sabatella's harrowing,
gorgeous A Walk in the Park joins a credible slate of contenders
for album of the year..." "A
Walk in the Park is essentially an American roots album. Imagine Tom
Waits if his weathered voice was palatable for mass consumption or Brian
Wilson with more of an edge. But that's the beauty of Sabatella's work,
he isn't easy to pigeonhole." “...in
the Neil Young/Nick Drake vein... excellent comeback album...” |
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about Where the Hell Am I? “...the
dozen songs on Where the Hell Am I? are striking for not only their melodic
purity but for their insistent rhythms and shifting moods... Sabatella’s
voice is an instrument of almost crystalline beauty, an almost fragile
baritone capable of muted intensity ("Goodbye My Love") or raucus
embellishment ("Uniform")...” “...progressive
and alternative, Matthew Sabatella achieves something close to rock nirvana
(small ‘n’) on a thunderously melodic new album...”
“...folk and americana tinged and contemporary, but much more ambitious
and eclectic than the big-time radio ilk of Dog’s Eye View, Wallflowers,
et al...” “...reveals
himself to be a more-than-capable vocalist, with an earnest and gritty
range...” |