The Tallest Man on Earth Rocks

A co-worker told me about The Tallest Man on Earth last Monday. Four days later, we went to see him at the Black Cat. Indeed, Tallest Man on Earth, the moniker of Swedish singer Kristian Matsson, plays music that's both accessible and unique enough for such a quick conversion.

The first thing everyone says about The Tallest Man is that he sounds exactly like Bob Dylan. While his voice has a crackly edge to it that's reminiscent of a younger Dylan, it's hard to say if this is entirely due to physically similar vocal chords or an inflection of his Swedish accent. But like a young Dylan, Matsson's terrain is the acoustic guitar. All but one song on his new album, The Wild Hunt, is just him and a guitar. (The last song, Kids on the Run, is just him and a keyboard). Though Kristian Matsson's lyrics aren't as poetic as Dylan, they have a lightness and simplicity that make them a pleasure to listen to on any occasion. They are also longer, painting more dramatic pictures. If Dylan's lyrics are political, then Matsson's are more personal. One heartfelt breakup song, "You're Going Back," goes like this:

"I could roll you to hell
I could swim from your heavens
I could drive you so safe
I could walk you to here
Let us float in the tears
Let us cry from the laughters
When it's not for some sake
And the city's not near

Well now, you're going back
You're going back, you're going back"

Subtle, no, but truthful nonetheless.

So it wasn't surprising that Matsson plays with a ton of emotion as well. Though I haven't seen Dylan on perform, I hear that he's rather stoic and laconic these days. Mattson, in contrast, is very energetic, making dramatic eyebrows to accompany his crescendos. He doesn't play tricks with the audience, but instead wears his heart on his sleeve. Though it's just him and a guitar, his movements keep our attention. He shrinks down low with whispering and stands up high when he's shouting. It's a very earnest approach that makes him an extremely likable act.