If Matt Corby isn’t a household name yet - you’re in the wrong house.
One of Australia’s most-adored talents, the singer/songwriter has continually blurred the lines of folk, indie, rock, psychedelic and soul throughout his impressive, decade-long career.
In celebration of Matt Corby’s new releases ‘Vitamin’ and ‘If I Never Say A Word’, the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2019 album Rainbow Valley, we’ve gone back through the records to re-discover his top five tracks of all time!
5. Resolution (Resolution EP, 2013)
It had to be on here. ‘Resolution’ is to Matt Corby what ‘Go Your Own Way’ is to Fleetwood Mac – a classic; the one song that everybody knows; the song that will always find its way into music lists; the one that the artist is remembered by. With 8.7 million views on YouTube, 43 million streams on Spotify and the 2013 ARIA award for Song of the Year, it’s fair to say that ‘Resolution’ is one of Matt’s best works. The dynamic range of the track is unprecedented – a soft picking guitar that builds into a powerful folk rock anthem, begging you to sing and air-drum in the office to. ‘Resolution’ earns its place in this list for the impact it had on Matt’s career, and on the music world at the time. It was tough to decide which song between ‘Resolution’ and ‘Brother’ (Into the Flame EP, 2011) had a greater impact and should claim a spot in this list. But whilst ‘Brother’ may have properly placed Matt Corby onto the map, ‘Resolution’ was proof that he deserved to stay there.
4. Made of Stone (Transition to Colour EP, 2010)
‘Made of Stone’ is a beautiful, melodic piece from one of Matt’s earliest EPs. It’s full of raw emotion and showcases his impeccable vocal range – quickly switching from high, fluttering notes to the softness of his lower register in an instant. The drums and electric guitar that sit tightly in the background accompany the track well, but it’s the prominent piano that drives it home. It wasn’t long after this song’s release that every amateur and professional pianist was learning the melody and uploading their covers online. ‘Made of Stone’ takes this spot in the list for being a true breakthrough piece for Matt. Before this, he was a former reality-singing-show contestant looking for his moment to shine; this song was a genuine lighting of the torch for his career.
3. Monday (Telluric, 2016)
It’s not often that an artist will release something so good, so wonderful and so intricate that you leave it on repeat for at least four plays. But that’s exactly what happened when ‘Monday’ arrived. Matt’s first single from his debut album, Telluric, was released after two years of silence. The song itself is brilliant; every sound you hear is created by Matt and his own body – no instruments involved. Layers upon layers of insane vocal harmonies, clicks, claps and stomps construct this beautiful, heart-wrenching piece. ‘Monday’ is about failure, and more importantly, accepting that it’s okay to have flaws. Recorded in 10 minutes as a way to test his vocal loops during the recording of Telluric, this track quickly made its way into the hearts (and playlists) of fans and critics alike. ‘Monday’ takes the bronze medal in this race for its showcase of Matt’s talent. A spectacular single in its own right, as well as a perfect transition song within the album, this track is an ideal display of Matt Corby’s musicianship and dedication to his craft.
2. No Ordinary Life (Rainbow Valley, 2018)
The magical harp and piano lines of ‘No Ordinary Life’ create an oddly-nostalgic feeling, despite being completely fresh; completely unheard of. Matt’s wandering vocals and punchy drums ease us into a dream state, almost reminiscent of some recent Kevin Parker/Tame Impala works. This track deserves second prize for its overall balance of sound. It moves and drives; it has enough groove to seem soulful but its complexity of layering and instrumentation allows it to sit in a psychedelic haven. In a similar fashion to his release of ‘Monday’, this masterpiece came after another two-year gap between music from the Northern Beaches local. Nobody quite knew what to expect: would it be more indie/folk like his earlier EPs, or more future-psych like his debut album hinted at? The result was somewhere perfectly in the middle, a fusion of style and genre that is simultaneously exciting and relaxing. It’s near flawless, only one song could top it…
1. Miracle Love (Rainbow Valley, 2018)
‘Miracle Love’ is arguably (but don’t argue with us) Matt Corby’s best track yet. It’s lush, textured and soulful, combining the pure simplicity of harmony with a new brand of groove and urgency.
This song takes out the #1 spot for a combination of its lyrics, instrumentation, emotion and shape. From beginning to end, ‘Miracle Love’ provokes feeling, it draws to its lyrics and paints a stunning aural picture that isn’t found as vividly in most modern music.
Matt sings:
We got carried away / So much love that I was blind to / And I made my mistakes / And you put them all behind you / Can we bring back that miracle love?
A cry for forgiveness and reconciliation, this track is a coming-of-age, admittance of wrongdoing wrapped up in a musical journey that everyone can enjoy. It’s the mark of something new – an exciting step for Matt Corby’s music, career and life entirely.
Honourable mentions:
– Knife Edge (Telluric, 2016)
– All That I See (Rainbow Valley, 2018)
– Better (Rainbow Valley, 2018)
Photo by MattJohnson