Review: Matt North 'Bullies In The Backyard'

Matt North

By Mike O’Cull

Nashville-based singer/songwriter/drummer/actor Matt North dispenses a truckload of well-written original roots music on his second solo album Bullies In The Backyard. Out February 11th, 2021 on Round Badge Records, the set is ten tightly-composed new songs in the Dylan/Zevon/Americana vein that deal with characters, life issues, and situations in a glorious, plain-spoken way that’s both expressive and uncommon. It was mixed by Grammy winner Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco, Los Lobos) and mastered by Pete Lyman (Tom Waits, Chris Stapleton, Barry Gibb), each doing fine work helping North’s unique songs come to life.

North is backed by a congress of top-tier musicians that includes guitarist Stuart Mathis (Lucinda Williams, The Wallflowers), bassist Chris Donohue (Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris), and keyboardist Michael Webb (Chris Stapleton, John Fogerty). Guest spots by Jonny Polonsky and Jesse DeNatale sweeten the deal. This talented crew ended up making a low-key epic that makes its stand on the often-overlooked ideas of meaningful songwriting and outstanding musicianship.

Matt North is a multifaceted artist and performer who has found success in music, television, standup comedy, film, and writing. He’s played drums for Maria McKee, Peter Case, L.A. punks The Buxotics, Andy Prieboy’s “White Trash Wins Lotto,” Jesse DeNatale, Mink Stole (of John Waters fame), and Blondie Chaplin (Rolling Stones, Beach Boys), appeared on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, opened for ace comedians Mitch Hedberg, Jimmy Fallon, and Dave Chappelle, and was Patton Oswalt’s roommate in Haight-Ashbury for two years. In addition to drumming, North rocks out as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter who can turn a fearless phrase with the best in the business. All of this creativity factors into every song he comes up with and it makes Bullies In The Backyard time well spent from one end to the other.

The uptempo and rocking “The Last Angry Man” starts the record with a big groove and sweet horn section enchantments. The lyrics deal with a bitter soul who took the social deal, waited for the payoff that never came, and is mad as you-know-what about the whole thing. North’s half sung/half shouted vocal is instantly engaging, adding a major sense of urgency to the track. It will absolutely get your blood moving.

“Hollywood Forever” is a sarcastic, insightful ballad about the highs and lows of trying to make it big in Tinseltown that can sit at the bar with Warren Zevon’s iconic “Desperados Under The Eaves.” North displays the same type of cynical brilliance Zevon had with slightly less venom to it and makes you really feel what it’s like to be told “you couldn’t have done it any better / we’re gonna go with the other guy.” He makes sorrow-drowning seem like the only possible reaction to being rejected by an industry committed to “serving you a mayonnaise sandwich on a silver tray” and his chorus shines with classic 1970s California songwriter glory.

North’s “Seat At The Table” is an accusatory and direct indictment of someone who played hardball to get rich, made them all beg, and wound up all alone with their money. His lead vocal has a Dylan-esque tone and meter that’s perfect for his lyrical content and sits well over the ringing piano chords that anchor the song. It’s an extremely strong piece of work that packs an emotional knockout punch.

Bullies In The Backyard is loaded with wonderful moments like the lighthearted “Top Of The Fridge,” the relatable “Holding It Together,” and the funky “Burial Grounds.” Matt North is the kind of songwriter who says exactly what he means and lets the chips fall where they may, a creative stance we could all use more of. He’s a bit more subtle and nuanced than many younger artists these days but there’s a lot of old-school genius here that the kids will never have. Make sure you don’t miss out on one of 2022’s early contenders for Album of the Year.

“Last Angry Man”