Remember when people asked kids what they wanted to be when they grew up, like they would have a single career, maybe even a single job? At this point in society’s arc that seems more nostalgic than realistic, witness the career of Portland, Maine (by way of Connecticut and NYC), artist Matt Cascella. His first couple of albums were solo efforts under the name Owlbiter. Then came Brooms, a full band, while pursuing a parallel path in film editing and directing. Then his move to Portland gave him a little more space for reflection and he shifted his nom de plume to Schmoon, a childhood nickname.
Schmoon’s debut album, Pretty Darn Pretty, is about to be released and echoes some of Cascella’s newfound insights. Lyrically the record is bookended by a couple of tunes embracing the idea that nostalgia is almost by definition viewed through rose colored glasses. The opener, Sadly County Fair, takes a look at the “attractions” from a more modern point of view. The closing cut, and title track, takes a broader view of the past, but with a similar perspective. It has a bit a Nilsson feel, if he were still around. Musically the record covers a pretty good span, from the rock ballad Made It Up to the samba doo-wop of Table For One.
The hardest hitting song on the record is Not A Girl. It’s a pretty country waltz about domestic violence. That jarring juxtaposition is intentional and intended to remind us the true story is very often hidden by acceptance, a rationalization of what’s happening. When Cascella sings “I’m not a girl…anymore”, it hits the double-shot of dehumanizing the victim while also stripping away the life that should have been. Then that country waltz kicks back in and leaves you with some hope and appreciation for taking the effort to talk about it. We’re proud to premiere the song so you can listen to the story yourself. Here’s Schmoon, and Not A Girl.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.