The Noise

In Matt Lutz’s solo project (he is also the singer for the San Francisco band The Herms) his quirky songwriting is reminiscent of a modern day Ziggy Stardust. Only Matt isn’t ripping lines off a toilet seat in a one-piece sequin suit; he?s plucking an acoustic guitar under the fading stars. Seesaw has nine good songs, one smooth elevator ride, and one instrumental filler.  Despite his obvious skill as a songsmith, I get the uneasy feeling that Matt?s about to go out in the cornfield, put the barrel of a shotgun to his temple, and cash out.   It would be a shame if Matt took himself that seriously.  He is clearly capable of unique and memorable melodies.  The gem of the record is “Took Me Awhile,” which is laced with xylophone and is pleasantly familiar to Morrissey’s “First In The Gang.”  Unfortunately Matt fails to ever crawl out of his vocal comfort zone.  His delivery is flat and frequently drab.  Seesaw plateaus after the initial warm and tingly then just kind of fades away into mediocrity.    (Kevin McDevitt)