This came out in 2005 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Give Matt Mays credit; he tells it like it is.
Back in 2003, the Nova Scotia roots-rocker and ex-member of The Guthries put out his first solo album — called, naturally, Matt Mays. Now, after a couple of years on the road with his band El Torpedo, he has put out his second disc — creatively dubbed Matt Mays & El Torpedo. But it’s not as if Mays is repeating himself. While his debut harked back to the gentle Topanga Canyon country-rock of the ’60s, El Torpedo is less CSNY and more Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Mays’ melodic melancholy, loping grooves and twangy vocals are still in full effect here. But they’ve been turbocharged by the fuzzed-out guitars and thundering backbeats of his Torpedo, producing a sound midway between the gritty crunch of Drive-By Truckers and the jangle of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers — and definitely more in tune with their full-on live show. Mays can call it whatever he wants; you’ll likely call it a keeper.
