=One would seemingly need to be the Tallest Man on Earth to handle constant comparisons to Bob Dylan. Kristian Matsson has called himself that for some time now, and his exceptional music has done little to refute such claims. Now more than ever it seems that the accolades and praise are beginning to merit such a comparison — if ever that were possible. Admittedly it may not be, but Matsson has recently started down an avenue Dylan presumably chose not to explore, which is the ability to blend rough, folk vocals with joyful notes and sounds.
Ever the poet, Dylan often wandered in the shade. Matsson, however, has begun to bring his folksy voice out from the darkness and into plain view of the sunny mainstream hits. With “1904,” Matsson has even gone as far as introducing high-pitched happy tones to his repertoire. Reminiscent of a carefree Grateful Dead melody, the riff complements the raw vocals to create a very enjoyable track. While the uncanny resemblance to Dylan’s vocal style remains, a new chapter emerges between the singer-songwriters.
With a U.S. release date of June 12, There’s No Leaving Now will be the young Swede’s third full-length album since 2008. Now that Matsson has begun to use the full range of his guitar more consistently, the Tallest Man on Earth should be able to handle even the loftiest comparisons.