Track Listing

1. What I Wanna Hear
2. Live Wire
3. War We Wage
4. Betting Man
5. Lay It Down
6. Can't Put You Down
7. Woman Across the River
8. Nothing Left
9. I Told Ya
10. Stranger Blues
11. Not Raining Now

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2268 in Music
• Released on: 2009-05-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds

MOJO, July 2009
Ever-impressive English blues guitar player lays down an unbeatable hand...the 30-year-old guitarist steps up to another level altogether...a skill that's always controlled by impeccable taste - ****

CD Description
A new band line up, a collection of first-class songs and his trademark sophisticated-yet-fiery guitar work. Packed with energy and memorable hooks, this album raises the bar for contemporary blues and consolidates Schofield's position as the most exciting and influential blues guitarist to have emerged for several generations.

Customer Reviews

The UK's finest blues gun sets his weapon to stun
Well, i've had the album a couple of weeks now (courtesy of a direct pre-order to Nugene- they sent me a lovely free poster too, which was rather darned nice of them!) and it been spinning gently since. And a couple of weeks in, I am finally moved after 5 years to write my first proper Amazon review. Matt Schofield is a wonderful blues guitarist (and vocalist, we sometimes forget) and I firmly think that this is Matt's best, and definitely most cohesive, release to date. I think/hope it could really move things on for him.

And it kicks off right; of all the tracks, the one that's really gotten under my skin is the fantastic opener 'What I Wanna Hear' - a cracking, simple groove, but tweaked just-so and with neatly explosive rhythmic break-outs that bend the ear, a smoky vocal and some sublime lead breaks, paced to perfection. I really love this track. I would also pick out 'War We Wage'- intelligent and classy, but with simmering anger in its belly.

But not a duff track on the album (i'm not going to dissect them all- they are all great, i assure you), and noting that the 'originals' ratio is again high (9/11) this is a testament to Matt's developing song-writing prowess- great stuff. I even think the cover art scores a better hit too- a bit more upbeat, loud and confident- which reflects the music. From start to finish, Matt's playing is upfront and direct, exactly where it should be. Not to take away anything from the previous studio albums, which i love, I think this is the first release that truly manages to effectively 'bottle' the incredible energy and invention of Matt's extended live improvs, framed within really tight, lean and original song structures, so not invoking that sense of indulgence that most guitarists 'going off on one' in an extended jam or outro can be reasonably accused of. It really is the finished article.

I understand that Matt set out to achieve particular things with this album- a more direct, accessible style which would have wider appeal and help prevent his music falling down the dusty gap between straight-up blues audiences and the jazzier side of the street. That must have been a very hard balance to negotiate, without comprimising that liquid, lyrical Schofield sound, and i really do think he has 'Ace'd it (apologies!). I'm really impressed, and i'm not easily impressed.

Infact, I don't think any other modern blues guitarist has put out an album that, taken as a package, is remotely this good. Let's analyse- of the players that rise above parody or the merely 'solid/nice player' category, Messeurs Mayer and Trucks have some sweet chops of their own, especially the latter, but have divergent musical agendas, and so their playing and recordings lack the same unity and focus (and depth, in the case of Mayer). KWS needed vocal assistance to find his fire, and then lost it again in stylistic meanderings without really delivering on the early promise (IMHO). A certain Mr Ford is still playing fantastically, but his his song-writing is sometimes quite 'myeh', and his recorded output is reliably patchy, needing some 'best of' sorting. He also maybe lacks an 'edginess' whilst also being somehow less smooth and lyrical, and I can't put my finger on how that figures! Mr Bonamassa has given Gary Moore a long-needed unceremonious shove out of the shred-head blues-rock spotlight and taken a previously tired and hackneyed one-man genre into revitalised and more interesting territory, but like Moore, i think he's a shouty shredder at heart (just with a FAR more interesting and dynamic tool bag!) and his output is as much about rootsy-Americana rock as it is blues. Buddy Whittington has also put out a great first marker, fun and feisty, but his style draws heavily on a mix-bag of other Texas greats and the innovation is mostly lyrical rather than musical (but do buy it- super stuff!). Gregor Hilden in Germany shares with Matt a tone and touch to kill for/die for (depending on your nature) but is content to chalk up reverent and niche-y instrumental noodlings (not knocking this if that's his passion!) and evidently doesn't have the urge to break out of format and aim higher/wider.

No, Heads, Tails and Aces is that rarest of beasts- a PROPER 'modern vintage' blues record by a proper modern vintage blues musician. It goes straight to the top of my 'select list' of recordings, in the most prestigious company. It is the album i will now direct people to when spreading the word to musical friends and colleagues (i have a small congregation of converts... ) and i am really glad i can now do so without wondering if they will dig it, because on the strength of this material, i know they will.

So let's hope it does the job apparently intended, and that this is the album that opens doors to new venues and audiences, and propels Matt to the wider recognition he deserves- i hope it will be promoted like mad for this reason, because Matt's name really should be up in lights along with all of the name-checked artists above. Its probably just about getting the right breaks now to push at the door that Mayer and Bonamassa have once again kicked open in the industry for proper guitar-led music, and to get a bit of the action. Catch him live whilst you can still see him play up close and personal and shake his hand in muted awe at the end of the gig- if there is any justice, you'll need to be in possession of a backstage pass to do the same in a few years time.

I was gone, man! SOLID gone!
Matt Schofield is a chap I'd never heard of before. Listening to his music made me ASHAMED that I hadn't discovered his work before, frankly. The moment I first heard him play at the Lichfield Jazz Festival on the 27th June 2009, I was completely blown away the second he started strumming. The man is a phenomenal guitarist and his crew, Jonny Henderson (on keys), Jeff Walker (on Bass) and Alain Baudry (on drums) are all awesome.

If anyone thinks I'm exaggerating or being sycophantic, I can assure you I am NOT. Heads, Tails and Aces is an album that reels you in right when you press `Play'. It's blues music that is just full of emotion, rhythm and an awesome beat. The synchronisation of all the instruments is flawless and Matt's vocals add to the whole `feel good' experience. When you listen to the album, you cannot help but let it consume you. It's so easy to get into and embrace whole-heartedly because of the music's nature. Every track kicks off with a big bang and doesn't let up in it's momentum.

"What I Wanna Hear" is a song that is testament to that. In fact, it's the best song on the CD. It is indeed a song you want to hear, due to its ability to kick off a party (ANY party) to a rollicking start. It's a PERFECT opener and a perfect song. Bouncing, spine-tingling, never-relenting and generating a feeling of such great ecstasy; "What I Wanna Hear" is a song that will make everyone play it over again and again.

Not to say any of the other tracks are rubbish. NONE of them are. Next up, "Live Wire" is a different breed of cat and so refreshing and unique because of it. Different pacing and arrangements make for another cracking track, showing that Matt and his band don't go for anything samey, and that they're able to tinker radically to produce some wonderful pieces.

"War We Wage", "Betting Man", "Lay It Down", "Can't Put It Down", "Woman Across The River", "Nothing Left", "I Told Ya", "Stranger Blues" and "Not Raining Now" are all fantastic songs. Some are better than others, but not one of them ever fails to make you get down and go with the flow. You can't help but FEEL the great emotion the songs evoke, and that's the mark of a true artist.

Like reviewers before me have said, Matt Schofield is a man who deserves to have his name propelled into mainstream. After seeing him perform live and buying this album, I agree wholeheartedly. The man and all his fellow musicians are clearly gifted and this CD is something I would recommend to everyone. Heads, Tails & Aces is a fantastic album that represents high-quality and excellent value for money, regardless of what kind of music you fancy. Get a copy today!

Why haven't I heard of Matt Schofield before
I just want to add my voice to all the other rave reviews here. I'd never heard of Matt Schofield a week ago - now I can't stop playing his albums.
This guy is sensational!