Album Review: Matt Stillert - Shoe Boycotter

3 December 2015 | 12:05 pm | Lukas Murphy

"Deeply set in older or traditional genres, yet new and enlightening in the same moment."

The debut album from the self-proclaimed purveyor of an "alternative blues onslaught" is a broad spectrum of ideas — all deeply set in older or traditional genres, yet new and enlightening in the same moment.

Stillert's predominantly acoustic-blues style certainly doesn't fail to be infectious, striking and invigorating. Highlights include the opener Sun Grateful, setting a slow-paced mood, yet one that builds its own kinetic energy, Little Yellow Wand, which brings that energy back down, and the live tracks Tick Tock Boom and Money In My Hat.