Matt Montgomery with Brian Adam McCune - Petty Troubles

Matt Montgomery with Brian Adam McCune

Petty Troubles
self-released; 2014

3.7 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

Matt Montgomery has rooted himself in the musical industry in California. Petty Troubles is his latest endeavor, alongside Brian Adam McCune and Brendan West, and what an endeavor this album really is. The entirety of Petty Troubles was recorded in one day, completely live, in a warehouse with a large group of musicians; let’s call them an orchestra. The album is a beautiful orchestration of the abilities of modern day musicians to create such high quality sounds in a short amount of time.

While listening to this album, I can’t help but think of show tunes. The songs have a fun air to them and even remind me movies like “Toy Story” or any comedy that took place in the busy streets of New York City. On the song “Though I Try” I can just see someone skipping down the sidewalk sweetly singing in their lover’s ear, that they are so desperately trying to get their attention; “Tell me all the things I'm aching to hear… I can' see behind eyes that aren't my own... Though I Try.”

Each song maintains an air of epicness and embodies something that one can sit back and relax to, and just simply let the grandeur of the natural music sweep over one's presence. “A Thousand Years” is another track that can easily be a soundtrack to a movie perhaps about traveling through a gorgeous landscape and perhaps experiencing a bit of self-discovery. The lyrics, “Towers form surrounding brambles twigs and leaves, a Thousand Years forgotten, no one needs to grieve,” draw an elaborate picture with intriguing metaphors and as the song continues it morphs into different emotions and then closes with an epic crescendo of orchestra-sounds.

Petty Troubles seems to be omniscient, for it could be a soundtrack to any major Hollywood film, as well as play in the background and offer soothing and adventurous vibes for any one, anywhere. For being recorded live, the album upholds a high level of sound quality and anyone could think it was recorded in a studio at first listen. It is refreshing to hear these kinds of sounds because the usage of live instruments is not as popular as it used to be. Petty Troubles takes on a classical orchestra approach and dresses it in new clothes, making it appealing to any music lover. 

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