Matt Smith's Nervous System - Close Down the Dream

      Matt Smith never stopped creating music after playing for years in some of Buffalo’s relatively best known and most successful bands, first Scott Carpenter and the Real McCoys/the Orbits before that, and with The Headhunters led by Terry Sullivan. Smith later basically created his own studio, produces and records his own music and other performers and plays out live again.

     Now recording and performing as Matt Smith’s Nervous System, accompanied by Colin Pratt on bass and Roddy Potter on drums, Smith released an absolutely wonderful album in 2021, “Close Down the Dream.” I could take the easy route and say that the album features 11 songs of Smith’s guitar playing (10 originals, one cover), as well as Matt singing and the rhythm section doing a fine job, and be done, but I am a rock writer, and well…

     The recording starts with “Downer,” a basic drums and bass rhythm before Smith comes in with spare, funky, bluesy guitar that gets more stinging and echoey; while there’s a bit of singing, this is a virtual and winning instrumental. “Everything Isn’t Anything Anymore,” beginning with stripped down, rumbling guitar, has Smith wondering whether or not his work, music or life is good enough or when do you stop trying, themes he returns to often. With this recording released in 2021, no doubt much of the writing and recording went on during the worst of the COVID pandemic, possibly causing some introspection. “A Regular Thing” sounds hot and atmospheric with slower guitar; Smith comes to grips with everyday life and the good and bad of repetition, while his guitar sounds bluesy and even happy at times. “Teardrop Avenue” has an upbeat Motown sound and great guitar work.

     Songs keep excelling in the same mode, and after a cover of the Rolling Stones’ ”Child of the Moon,” “Reality” charges out with a riff endearing to us Stones/New York Dolls fans while Smith seems to sing that people should keep more of their BS to themselves. Some of the best songs are saved for the second half, including pretty much the guitar magnum opus of “Chasin’,” where Smith muses over trying to not fall behind creatively, socially, romantically and so on. The more than 7-minute song features about five minutes of Smith’s guitar rocking, ringing, soaring, scratching and feeding back, a bit like his “Marquee Moon.” Pratt and Potter stay out of Smith’s way while upping the intensity. “Until It Fits” takes the much quieter route, spare and fever dream like (some keyboards nicely accent Smith’s guitar), where the love of a person, vocation and substance seem to blend or at least are compared.

     I’ll stop but believe me, this is one REALLY good recording. Matt Smith’s Nervous System’s music is available on Bandcamp, the band’s website is www.mattsmithsnervoussystem.com and the band also has a Facebook page.