Matt Duncan
Who Are You On Your Own? b/w State Bird
scum stats: limited 100 copies on hellfire red vinyl (this); there is also a black version
As now seems to be somewhat of a yearly tradition, on the anniversary of me blabbing about records here for just over FOUR YEARS, I'm focusing on the wonderful sounds released by the prolific Soul Step label.
Duncan is the "flagship" artist on the label and his smooooooth sounds are reminiscent of the 80's easy listening jams I fondly recall emanating from the speakers of my mother's Pontiac 6000. Little bit Hall & Oats. Soft vocals sooth for uncertain times.
A-side is previously released, but the flip is just hitting today. A synth-exploration worth the time it takes to listen. If you cannot roll with this, check your wheels.
Although I say it every year, I feel like the situation is more poignant now than ever. SUPPORT YOUR SMALL LOCAL INDEPENDENT LABELS. I have so much joy in the crushing numbers I hear Bandcamp reporting on their fee-free Fridays, it truly warms the cockles of my slowly congesting heart.
The lovely Melvin at Soul Step sent me two copies of this one, so the extra goes to the comment below with the best story about their state or region. State bird of Michigan is the robin and I always thought that was bullshit growing up. I wanted something like the cardinal or the oriole, mainly because of their baseball counterparts. The state stone is the petoskey, which as fossilized coral I think is pretty badass.
Tell me about your state, why it rules, why it sucks, whatever. Winner chosen solely at my completely biased discretion.
(side note: four years? I haven't given up? thanks so much for the comments everyone posts here, I truly enjoy like 72% of them)
My state is Confusion it has mountains and valleys/The Raven our state bird hasn’t been seen for awhile maybe nevermore/but that’s ok they were a one trick pony in a one horse state/ the future of our state hasn’t been stated by our LEADERS so we don’t know where we’re going just yet/ but that’s ok we never really did come to think of IT/ But I love my state of Confusion I was born and raised right here all my life/ don’t know no better/ I think I’ll stay/ have a nice day
I rolled down the mountains of Montana and ended up in the frozen northland of Minnesota. The winter’s are brutal but the time spent with friends and family in the summer heat on the greatest lake Superior are priceless!
Just stopping by to say what a lovely shout out to a great guy who is dedicated to releasing worthy music, I think I have all of Matt Duncan’s releases from this label. I’m not entering this contest since my own copy of this record should arrive tomorrow but one of the best things about my state is Soul Step Records for sure. I met Melvin several years ago waiting for the RRS to come to Shake-It Records, he told me about his label and I’ve been a fan ever since! He also DJ’s a Monday evening show called Soul Step Radio on Inhailer.com, check it out if you have time! Thank you for blabbing about records, I hope you don’t stop!
That vinyl looks Cornhusker Crimson which is where I was born and raised. Twice transplanted to Oregon. You don’t have to shovel rain and the weather at least in Winter is conducive to lots of music listening. Besides the beautiful scenery here our state animal is the beaver.I still bleed red but would probably never go back home, least not for long.
Ontario, Canada, a great province to grow up in, and what really sucks about it lately is that there are to many young people not complying to the mask everywhere rule, all young people in this province should take a step back, by this i mean they should go spin some 45s and just chill at home, thats what im doing right now, on the Rega 2 table now is Nick and the Jaguars yellow vinyl, courtesy of TMR inc.
North Carolina sucks, every house you drive by has a trump sign in it, plus i’ve been booed and cussed out on more than one occasion for proudly displaying my “icky trump” shirt in public. BUT. NC is where Babe Ruth hit his first major league homerun, as well as where he allegedly received the nickname “babe”. And NC is where The White Stripes played their second show outside of Michigan and first show in the southern US!
All I can say is that the 55th issue of Weird N.J. just came out last week. That’s 55 issues of local legends, roadside attractions, mythical bests, and ghost stories. It’s why I love my home state!
Did Melvin send you the wax mage variant, it’s gorgeous. Nice to see Matt getting some well deserved kudos as well…
If you see a pleasant peninsula, look around you! If you’re looking for conservative dutch religious nut jobs, they’re in West Michigan – Home of Betsy DeVos!
The state bird is the Robin. I used to think they all migrated south for the winter, and most do. Some of them stick around all year though. The lazy ones!
I moved from New Jersey to Michigan when I was 5 and I am still here! A full-fledged Michigander! Or is it Michiganian? If you are a long time resident here it is never Michiganian and always Michigander. I do not have to go on with accolades about the great state of Michigan as Ben is very familiar with all it has to offer. Nuff said.