A lot of the albums I review are from artists still early in their arc. Part of that is to try to expose less well known acts, but some of it is because what new are you going to say about someone who has 20+ records out in the public for people to hear. So I had to think twice about doing a write-up of Iain Matthew’s 53rd (or is it 54, he’s not sure) record. It’s called How Much Is Enough, and what I discovered is the lead vocalist for early Fairport Convention still has something interesting to say after 60 years as a musician. Even better, he’s set the stories to a score that’s at once new and yet also familiar.
The best place to start is with the title track. It’s a singer-songwriter reflection on Matthews’ own career, and the notion that he still loves what he’s doing. “I know deep down it’s a slow decline” admits age is an issue, but if you have the passion and love for it, why stop. Matthews’ vocals convey that complex set of emotions–wistful and yet so thankful–that make the song an autobiography of sorts. The opener, Ripples In A Stream, also touches on the wisdom that comes with age, in a timeless folk rock sound. Another timeless piece is the 70’s feel of Where Is Love. It’s a protest song in the CSNY style and features Matthews’ daughter on background vocals.
While Matthews and his peers may have set the standard for folk rock, he’s not stuck in that genre. Turn And Run has an 80’s rock vibe, but with a touch of surf guitar. It’s a commentary on the withdrawal from Afghanistan, from the perspective of a collaborator left behind. Santa Fe Line is more of a traditional folk piece, in a fable about living life where “Smokestack Jack was no hero but he lived an honest life.” “Let me take you on a trip, way back before the blues were hip” is the perfect summary for Rhythm And Blues. It’s a pop-ish ode to the early R&B pioneers and features plenty of Easter eggs in the lyrics and instrumental solos. She’s A Digital Girl is pop rock commentary on all of our lives where we’re “adrift on an ocean of digital haze,” with a touch of the Beatles to the sound.
While Iain Mathews is clearly the front man for his solo and Matthews Southern Comfort group albums, his band has been with him a long time and they elevate this record. There are all kinds of catchy riffs that play off Matthews’ vocals and add layers of texture to his lyrical stories. I’m not going to go listen to all 53 (or 54) of his records, but How Much Is Enough is, I’m certain, a great place to start to catch up with one of the voices of a generation.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.