In The Key of Grey is brooding crooner Matt Dorrien’s debut album under his own name and follows-up two great albums under the moniker Snowblind Traveller. This album is essentially a break-up record and a collection of slow, heart-rending piano ballads that are introspective, sometimes confessional and sharp-witted. In the Key of Grey could have easily come out in the early 1970’s and draws some obvious comparisons to singer/songwriters like Harry Nilsson, Brian Wilson, Randy Newman, and Elliot Smith. Album highlights include: the beautifully sad-sack opening track “Baby, I’m So Lost”; a song to drown your sorrows “Mister Pour Another”; the loping piano based ode to a one-night stand in “Underwear Blues”; the beautiful heartbreaker “I Can’t Remember”; the post-breakup phone call on “All I Wanted to Say”; and the somewhat hopeful tongue-in-cheek “Maybe This Time.” The overwhelming heartache and sadness combined with an overarching sense of warmth and timeless beauty make Dorrien a comforting companion in times of loss. In The Key Of Grey is one of my favorite albums of the year. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson,
Elliot Smith, Brian Wilson