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Press Quotes
From the Portland Mercury
"This time of year, those of us who are buried neck-deep in music flip through the worn calendar and assemble our annual best-of lists. We share the privilege with various local musicians, bookers, labels, and so on—the results will be published next week—but one name that kept reccurring on this year's lists was Matt Sheehy. His lovely Tigerphobia album was released quietly earlier in the year, and while it lacked the promotional push some of its peers had, it's no less stunning." EAC The Portland Mercury
During World War II, the German Tiger tank was so colossally destructive that Allied soldiers developed a psychological fear of it, refusing to engage it in open combat. And while Matt Sheehy claims he just likes the sound of the word, the title of his first solo album, Tigerphobia, is a perfect analogy for the album's themes of turning gun shy after getting emotionally burned. The songs deal with the dissolution of a musical partnership and the end of a romantic relationship, but any fears and frustrations are challenged, and ultimately beaten, by hope and discovery of the self.
It's a beautiful album, on which every tune is spectacularly good; the songwriting is potent, emotional, poetic, and engaging, with catchy melodies and inventive arrangements. You'll find yourself sharing it with friends like a joyful secret, or singing it out loud in the car, or putting a song on a mixtape for someone to whom you need to say something important but can't quite put it into words. Sheehy has done the work of processing all the difficult emotions, and the acoustic-based songs on Tigerphobia are the wholly pleasurable result. Read entire article by Ned Lannamann
From the Willamette Week:
"Don't blame Matt Sheehy for making you late. It's not his fault you missed the first half hour of a family dinner, sitting in your room listening to "About Piano" six times in a row. Maybe you'll be forgiven if you play it for Dad, letting him marvel at the midsong piano breakdown, the frenzied guitar lead, and Sheehy's detailed, Andrew-Bird_without-the-thesaurus lyrics. Sheehy's often a great uniter, with songs that can reach just about anyone with a keen melodic ear. Just remember your obligations next time you give Tigerphobia a spin." MM The Willamette Week
"The way Matt Sheehy–whose band is known as Gravity & Henry–starts this track with sparse, cold and slightly distorted drum beats under his sweet, straightforward vocals reminds me an awful lot of something John Vanderslice would do. And I love me some John Vanderslice. But the way “Lunatics” (presented here as a rough version from Sheehy’s upcoming debut, Tigerphobia, due fall 2007) then builds on that simplistic intro, adding more percussive layers, guitar, piano and sweeping vioin, is nothing to balk at, either.
It might be the way Sheehy takes this semi-experimental track and makes it climax with supreme catchiness at its chorus that’s most impressive, though. Sheehy’s rich voice strikes me as a somewhat less affected version of Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and when he belts out the refrain “Stand up/ Stand in” midway through the song, it hits your ears with earnest emotion. Sheehy also adds subdued, kinda Rob Crowe-ish (Pinback) backing vocals after said lines–an undoubtedly cool, seemingly minor touch.
The thing that surprises most every time I listen to this track, though, is the bass-led ending. Just when you think “Lunatics” is gonna capsize with indie-folk orchestration, it falls back to basics, taking you out with the sort of bass line that makes you arch your back and purse your lips. Nice!"
“Thick strumming and dewy, double-tracked guitar loops create deep rhythmic instrumental breaks between verses, between songs, too, as Matthew's Eastern leanings and rock-star wah-wah fill up the rest of the spaces.... The effect is compelling – the hair on my arms stands up not a few times....”
Kurt Dahlke, NW Drizzle
"Intelligent, impassioned and energetic.... Sheehy’s voice mournfully resonates upon a sad song- like a modern update of the Moody Blues’ “Nights In White Satin.”... he delivers his vocals with passion and conviction.... the music is always thought provoking and jaw-droppingly well executed."
SP Clarke, Two Louies Magazine
“Honest and real.... filled with emotion and longing and sweet draining vocals.”
Portland Mercury
“laden with Michael Hedges-style timings and progressions and plenty of shimmering, shiny guitar....”
Anchorage Press
