At this stage, Matt Maltese is undoubtedly a dependable artist; having perfected a winning approach of traditional songwriting mixed with self-deprecating humor, it would be quite a challenge for him to produce a bad album. Therefore, for his sixth studio album 'Hers', his challenge was not about execution but about evolution. He does delve into music's most prevalent theme—the intensely personal yet universal pain associated with love—yet he elevates even the most ordinary details to a cinematic level. The smooth woodwind elements transform the opening track 'Art House Cinema' from a melancholic tribute to solitary visits to the Prince Charles Cinema into a sleek lounge-pop piece, while 'Happy Birthday'—which appears to be a jealous reflection on missing an ex—receives a touch akin to a James Bond theme, thanks to its sweeping, dramatic arrangements. Having openly admitted to “writing a lot of music that stems from infatuation,” this collection comes from a place of growth, examining the relationship between love and lust, romance and sex, with skillful nuance. Matt's signature lyrical playfulness is perhaps more understated than in previous works; he largely avoids the typical English tendency to soften any display of vulnerability with humor, yet his self-aware and self-deprecating qualities remain clear. (“I should get a PhD in yearning all the time,” he muses on 'Pined For You My Whole Life'). Overall, 'Hers' showcases how much Matt has progressed since his 2018 debut; while he’s still the kind of guy you’d feel comfortable introducing to your mother, he is now anchoring his art in more mature themes. In the hands of almost anyone else, this album’s bolder lyrics (e.g., ‘Anytime, Anyplace, Anyhow’’s “I’m apoplectic looking at the stars / They look like you with your top off”) might come across as sleazy or, perhaps worse, cringe-worthy. However, in the case of Matt Maltese, he could never be categorized in either way.
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