"Swallow the Sea" out TODAY!
Current mood: thankful
Category: Music

I am happy to announce that "Swallow the Sea" is officially released today. It feels like it's been a long time coming...but it really hasn't been that long-we finished the record in March (actually, maybe that is a good chunk of time). Anyway, it's available on itunes and all other various online download sites. You can also check out your local indie record store to see if they're carrying it. If you end up getting it on itunes, please write a review of what you think. I'm excited (and a little nervous) to see how this record connects with people. I would love to know what you think.

I'm playing a couple CD release shows this week. August 20th I play in Birmingham, AL at Workplay Theater and August 23rd I play my Nashville home show at Exit/In. If you live in one of these cities, come on out! If you don't live anywhere near these cities, but know people who do, spread the word. I would be very grateful.

A BIG thanks to all the folks in Atlanta who came out to the show this past Saturday. It was so great to see everyone out for the show. It far exceeded my expectations. Apart from some of the issues with the sound that night (sometimes there are ghosts in the sound board), it was a perfect kick off. I'm very thankful for your support! Another big thanks to FOX 5 and DAVE FM for helping get the word out. Keep pestering Dave FM about "Save You". Those guys are great.

That's all for now. Don't forget to visit the fan site, www.breakingoutthewindows.com, they do an amazing job of keeping up to date with what's going on. Become a registered user and get all kinds of little perks. Check it out.

much love-
matthew

Currently reading : Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism By Cornell West

3:49 PM - 6 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

It’s time to spread the word!
Current mood: ninja

As I type this I'm listening to a record by The Frames called, "Fitzcarraldo". It's great. It's raw, aggressive, passionate...it pulls at my chest. Glen Hansard (the lead singer) has a voice that kind of tears at you. You catch that in the opening scene of the movie "Once" where he's taking out his vengeance in song on the streets of Dublin. I love that! I'm really enjoying this band. It's a shame that I'm just now really giving them a listen. One of my good friends became a fan of theirs years ago after he spent some time in Ireland. It wasn't until after the movie "Once" that I started paying more attention. Now I kind of feel like a schmuck. I wish I could say, "oh yeah, I've been listening to those guys for years". But no, now the movie's been a big hit and I'm one of the late comers. Oh well. Good music is good music no matter when you come on to it. So where is this rambling going? Not sure. But I want to spread the word about some things you should know about now.

1. GO LISTEN TO MY NEW RECORD! My new record, "Swallow the Sea" is set to release August 19 online and in stores. Until then I wanted to give folks the opportunity to listen to it. So right now until the release date you can stream the whole record at breakingoutthewindows.com. In order to access the songs you have to become a registered user. When you register you are then able to access other special offers as well, such as downloading live performances and unreleased songs. Go listen and let me know what you think!

2. I'M GIVING AWAY "THROWING PUNCHES IN THE DARK". Right now through NOISETRADE my last record is available for free download. It's very simple. You can find the widget on my myspace page on the left side. You have the option to download for free in exchange for telling 3 friends about it or you can just pay what you want. This is a great time to tell your friends about it. You can add the widget to your myspace or facebook page. Blog about it, email about it...tell the world! Noisetrade is one of those things that just started but is going to be the next big thing (in my opinion). Get on the train now!! It's a brilliant idea that provides a way to get music straight from the artist to the fan. The folks at noisetrade are thinking ahead of the curve. Go check it out and SPREAD THE WORD!

TEN OUT OF TENN TOUR! Lastly, I'm getting ready to hit the road with 9 other Nashville artists. This is going to be an amazing tour that you don't want to miss. We're all hoping into Willie Nelson's old tour bus and heading to 16 cities. I'm honored to be heading out with the folks on this tour...they are all amazing! For more details check out Ten Out of Tenn. You can find the dates on my site. Check to see if we're coming near you.

Thanks for reading along. I know this was a long one. Go get your music on!

cheers,
matthew

Currently listening : Fitzcarraldo By The Frames Release date: 2006-04-07

6:32 PM - 4 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

NEW RECORD COMING SOON!
Current mood: fermented
Category: Music

I am happy to announce that my new record is done! I'm calling it "Swallow the Sea" after one of the songs on the record. I think the title captures the spirit of the record very well. I went into this project with producer, Neilson Hubbard (Throwing Punches in the Dark), with the resolve to go for it and not hold anything back. We wanted "big" and I think we got it. On this record I threw out the temptation to make a sparse, stripped down indie record...that seems to be the thing these days. Whereas I like those kinds of records, that just wasn't what this record called for (or what I was in the mood for). Neilson and I put on our lab coats and spent hours cooking up sounds and textures for the emotional landscape of this record. We had a lot of fun with it. Whereas the majority of the basic tracks were recorded live with the band, we went in and created the environment for the songs to live in-like painting the walls and hanging the artwork. With Neilson at the helm of the ship, we arrived at some interesting places. I'm really happy with how it's all turned out.

I don't want to say too much about the record. It is set to release in early August. I will most likely post songs or samples of the songs here on myspace at some point soon. There is also some video footage from the studio. Though I'm not going to say that I'm going to have that edited soon, because I've said that before and I have not delivered (my apologies!). Though, fortunately, someone else is doing the job. I have learned that I just don't have the time (or the talent) to go through all that stuff and come up with something decent. Maybe someday.

Stay tuned!

matthew

FINALIZED TRACK LISTING:

Out of the Shadows
Without A Clue
Save You
Amelia
Motherless Child
Don't Fall In Love
When It Falls Apart
Feels Like Letting Go
A Song for Canaan
Swallow the Sea

12:41 PM - 10 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

New Record in the Oven
Current mood: smitten

First thing’s first-Our daughter, Canaan (kay-nuhn) Elizabeth, was born March 15. She is a beautiful little girl! She’s keeping my heart full and my bed empty. I need a nap! If you’d like to see our little gypsy princess, you can view some photos at www.flickr.com/mpjphotos. She’s amazing.

As for music stuff, it is official-a new record is in the works. I kicked it off a few weeks ago with producer, Neilson Hubbard (Throwing Punches in the Dark). I’m pretty thrilled about how it has started off so far. We went into a studio here in Nashville a few weeks ago and recorded 6 songs live with the band. A couple songs are already done-"Save You" and "Without A Clue"-they will both be on the new record. "Save You" may be remixed for the record. There’s proving to be a good mix of some bigger energetic rock songs and a few slow, swampy sad songs (I can’t get away from those sad songs...they hurt so good!). There will be some video footage from the studio that I’ll release when it’s all edited...that stuff takes a while to get ready I’m learning.

There is still a lot of work to be done. Currently, Neilson and I are in the lab cooking up some sounds and parts for these songs. I also have a couple songs I need to finish writing. I’m enjoying the process and look forward to getting these songs out to you.

Finally, I have some video footage from the Ingrid Michaelson tour, but I’m in the process of editing it (when I have the time). I hope I can post something soon. Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading along.

be well.
matthew

Currently listening : Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of U2 By Various Artists Release date: 30 January, 2007

8:26 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

A Note From the Whirlwind
Current mood: crunk
Category: Music

Hello.

Well, there are many crazy/exciting things going on right now. Between moving into a new place a couple weeks ago, my wife being 8 months pregnant with our soon to arrive gypsy-princess, going on tour with Ingrid Michaelson and writing for a new record...oh, and did I mention my wife is about to have our first child. It's a bit much, but it's all good.

Next week I'll be hitting the road with Ingrid Michaelson and her trusty partner in crime, Allie Moss. I'm really looking forward to it. If you have not listened to Ingrid or only know her "Sweater Song" (The Way I Am) from the Old Navy commercial, I highly encourage you to listen to her latest record, "Girls and Boys". Her writing is sophisticated and whimsical with a voice that's simply enjoyable to listen to. I'm really honored to have been invited along on her tour.

I've also been doing a lot of writing for a new record. Things are coming together bit by bit. With the whirlwind that is my life right now, I'm sure lots of good material will surface. Chaos is often the birthplace of creativity for me. So we'll see what happens. We're shooting for a release this summer.

I'll try to keep things posted as best I can. I'm also going to do my best to edit some video footage from the American Songwriter Tour (last November) with Katie Herzig and Peter Bradley Adams and maybe have some new material from this tour coming up. All I can say is that I'll try my best.

Thanks for reading along!

be well.
matthew

Currently listening : Girls and Boys By Ingrid Michaelson Release date: 18 September, 2007

3:26 PM - 7 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

American Songwriter Tour
Category: Travel and Places

Well, I must admit that I don't get around to blogging much..at all. I'm going to get better at it. So here's a start.

I'm pretty excited about this tour coming up in November. I'll be on the road with the magical Katie Herzig and, fellow three name troubadour, Peter Bradley Adams.  We've been getting together to rehearse to put a cohesive show together. It's coming along really well. All three of us will take the stage together and play on each other's songs. I'm honored to be sharing the stage with such talented artists!

American Songwriter Magazine has been kind enough to present this tour. We'll be giving away magazines at the shows to promote this great magazine. Next time you're in the bookstore, check one out..or drop by their website.

We're trying to score a video camera so we can capture the fun in between shows and post video blogs. There's way too much fun that happens along the way and we're going to try to share it with you. We'll see. The trick is getting a camera...but I think we can do it.  If by chance we don't, I'll do my best to write about it.

I hope we'll see you at the shows! If we're not playing near you, but you know folks in the towns we'll be playing, we'd be much obliged if you help spread the word. We need as much help as we can get.

Thanks so much for reading. I plan to make writing more of a habit.

be well.

matthew

Currently reading : Jayber Crow By Wendell Berry Release date: 18 September, 2001

8:04 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

"Save You" NOW AVAILABLE ON ITUNES!

"Save You" is finally up on itunes. Check it!

4:47 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

A BIG thanks to Kyle XY fans

Since "Save You" aired on the season finale of Kyle XY I have received many, many messages regarding the song. I'm am blown away by the amount of interest and support people have shown. So this is to say thank you for writing and being so supportive!

Also, people are asking if "Save You" will be available on itunes. The song will be available in a month or so...it takes a little while to be processed, etc. Meanwhile it's available on snocap. Once it's up on itunes I'll post something to let folks know.

Thanks again for listening!

cheers,

matthew

7:35 PM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

New MPJ Fan Page-www.breakingoutthewindows.com
Category: Music

A new MPJ fan site has just been launched. Go check it out. For those of you who missed hearing "Save You" on the season finale of Kyle XY, you can see it here: Fan Page

7:40 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

"Save You" featured on Kyle XY Sept.3
Current mood: ummmm

Hey folks-

Just found out that "Save You" will be featured on the Season Finale of Kyle XY on ABC FAMILY September 3rd. Show starts 7pm central. For more information about the show check out http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/kylexy/

cheers,

matthew

Currently listening : Sky Blue Sky By Wilco Release date: 15 May, 2007

8:01 PM - 8 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment