Wednesday, January 19, 2011: The Tallest Man On Earth - A Lion's Heart

The Tallest Man On Earth is not Robert Pershing Wallow, but Kristian Matsson, who hails from Sweden and picks a mean tune.

There was a time when one person with a guitar and some great songs could rock the world. When listing to TTMOE, don't think of Dylan, think of Woodie Guthrie.

Now bear with me, obviously TTMOE isn't as overtly political, or even remotely political, but that's not my point. My point is there was a time when a guy with a guitar could matter.  A guy with a guitar and a vision and some poetry could mean something.

Now, all we have are lazy critics and even lazier audiences who hear someone with a nasal tone to their voice finger-picking on a dreadnaught guitar and immediately switch off, muttering something about Dylan under their breath.

So, what, NOBODY can play alone anymore just because someone like Dylan, or James Taylor have done it?  It's like hearing someone play saxophone and instantly dismissing it because Charlie Parker played the sax.  Or, better, it's like never going to a play because nobody can follow Shakespeare, so why try.

It's nonsense.  I love TTMOE not for who he sounds like, but for the songs he writes, HIS songs, HIS music and HIS voice.

And you should too.