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)
I live in Texas right now, but I consider Maryland my home and it is definitely the best state. You even mentioned the Oriole (capital O, please) in your post. Our state sport is jousting. I shouldn’t need to say much more after that. But I could. And will. There’s a reason crab cakes across the country are called “Maryland-style” (and they aren’t – don’t order them if you aren’t in Maryland). We have BY FAR the coolest state flag and it’s easy to spot someone from Maryland because they probably have some sort of state flag apparel on. You can go from the mountains to the city to the ocean in a day’s drive. Natty Boh. Let’s go O’s, hon!
I’m in upstate New York now, which… that’s where the theatre job is so that’s where I am, but I will always claim my suburban Detroit roots over everything, even if it’s sports teams haven’t won a playoff game in over 1600 days.
Ben,
Thank you for all the support over the years. It means so much that you listen to our records we send you. You are the best!
All I can say is I love Soul Step. I have every 45 they released and Melvin is doing it for all the right reasons. Super excited whenever Matt Duncan releases music.
I now live in Missouri, before I moved here I was in misery. I return to the state of misery as I realize the state of Missouri does whatever it can to disenfranchise the people and places that make of the population and the economy. On a bright side, we got TWO small market baseball teams, great food, mediocre beer, and the two biggest rivers in the USA confluence here. The state bird is the Eastern Bluebird, amphibian is the Bullfrog. Judging by many folks I see, I’m guessing the state rock is crystal meth. I hope I’m wrong.
Washington state is where I call home. State bird is the Goldfinch. We’ve got mountains on the Olympic Peninsula and the and majestic Cascades on the mainland. Going deep into the high country is both an endurance test and a spiritual experience. And we all know about the great music influencers from Washington. Enough said. Oh ya, great Wine country too.
From Oregon here. Our state flag is the only 2 sided flag with a beaver (state animal) on the flip. State bird is the western meadowlark. And Portland is great no matter what some people say. Although no sloe gin fizz in a pitcher to go.
Also from Kentucky. The grass isn’t blue and neither is the moon. Our state flower is goldenrod, a terrible weed nearly everyone is allergic to. But we have Bourbon, plus it is pretty here.
I’m in Kentucky, we have some beautiful state and federal parks, but we also have a Senator by the name of Mitch McConnell, a horrible little man that needs to retire, we have police that murder innocent people and a horse race where women wear crazy hats.