Matt Megrue

In listening back to this recording, I’m continually reminded of something that I forgot while making this album: Matt Megrue is not only a profound and poetic lyricist, but also a fearless one. Anyone who knows Matt is aware the impact that artists like Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen have had on him. In the past, Matt might have even leaned into those influences a bit much in a musical sense. But not this time. Those influences still find their way through, but more in the wordplay, layered imagery, and outspokenness that is happening all over The Mourner’s Manual. When you listen to a song like “Mirror, Mirror” it is the perfect example of what I’m talking about. Matt's vocals paint an incredible, melodic picture on top of this melancholic, brooding musical piece. It was the perfect ode to Robert Smith’s more fragile lyrical and vocal performances—a slight whisper in the voice and a sense of mystery in the words. Then the chorus opens up; taking cues from the vocal stylings of 90’s Northwestern post-hardcore and emo. The most curious thing about all of this is that, at the end of the day, it sounds just as recognizably Matt as anything he has ever written. More evolved, more mature, more contemplative? Perhaps. But there’s a thread in all of his songs that only he can maintain, and only he can pull further. Like this record was always meant to be. In producing a song like “We,” which Matt brought to the table in various states of realization, I was almost immediately moved by the pain that he so effortlessly and powerfully conveyed. His ability to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting at Emanuel AME Church of Charleston, while also boldly rejecting the sickness of hatred and racism, spoke volumes to me. The way the United States’ love affair with guns is addressed in “The NRA Took My Baby Away” struck me as blunt and impactful. In fact, Matt's ability to ride the lines between bluntness, impact, and tastefulness is apparent all over this record—and I can attest to that as being something that is really hard to do. “Fearlessness” is the best way I can describe the theme of this record, as it truly is an album about pushing beyond the, often-paralyzing, power that fear has over a person. And Matt really does push beyond fear, whether it’s in relation to the sometimes divisive, but necessary subject matter on the album, or the way that Matt decided to go all-in on a musically ambitious and, at times, controversially diverse set of songs. Matt’s lyricism shines like never before, as does his unique ear for melody and desire to push musical boundaries. He is an artist who is following in the tradition of his heroes, while also forging his own path. While some may be afraid to take artistic leaps and liberties, not Matt Megrue. He doesn’t yield to fear.