Matt Wertz - Under Summer Sun (CD)

All Music Guide

The fourth fulllength album from singer/songwriter Matt Wertz, 2008's Under Summer Sun features more of the laidback, heartfelt, adult alternative pop the Missouri native is known for. Oddly, just under half of the songs included here are carryover tracks from Wertz' 2007 effort Everything in Between. In that sense, Under Summer Sun comes off as more of a relaunch for Wertz rather than a fully realized album unto itself. That said, tracks like "Everything's Right," "5:19," and "Carolina" do evince a kind of rootsy, soulinflected folkrock not dissimilar to artists like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and others. Similarly, such midalbum moments like the slow ballad "I Will Not Take My Love Away" and the rousing and bluesy "Keep Faith" find Wertz revisiting his Christianrock base and should please longtime fans. And despite its misguided electronica intro, the power pop infused "With You, Tonight" is a fittingly uplifting rocker that pleasantly brings to mind the Goo Goo Dolls. However, it's the... blissedout, '70scentric midtempo title track "Summer Sun" that really grounds the album and brings to mind a perfect mix of Hall Oates blueeyed soul and America soft rock. Also, as it comes near the end of the album, if you glossed over the first half it just might be good enough to get you to spend a little more time under the sun. - Matt Collar, All Music Guide Read more Less