The Tallest Man on Earth
The Wild Hunt
Dead Oceans
April 13

By Matt Kiernan

Ever since the changes in Bob Dylan’s voice during the 1980s up until the present, fans have pined for the tone of his nasally and abrasive voice from the 1960s. Folk singer Kristian Matsson resurrects said voice with Dylan’s style of music, and does it very well with his second release, The Wild Hunt.

It may be that Matsson’s voice just so happens to be very similar to that of Dylan’s, but the comparisons are hard to ignore. Both use poetic lyrics and an acoustic guitar, having his songs tell stories that are meant to draw pictures in listeners’ heads.

He continues the sound of his first album, Shallow Grave, on the newest album, and starts it off with the track, “The Wild Hunt,” a sweet song about being unafraid of death.

“Troubles Will Be Gone” sounds like the songs featured on Dylan’s breakout album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Matsson’s fast guitar plucking may be even greater than his music’s godfather, and his vocals just as ardent.

If the connection between the two artists is still in question, Matsson even references Dylan’s song “Boots of Spanish Leather” in his song “King of Spain.” Matsson’s nod is seen when he sings, “And I wear my boots of Spanish leather/ oh while I’m tightening my crown.”

Matsson puts down his guitar to take up a piano on the final track of the album, “Kids on the Run.” “Run” is an emotional track about looking back at memories and connecting them to relationships and love.

Matsson’s music goes beyond the ideas of politics in folk music to be something about his experiences and memories in ways that are simple but wonderful. For those who have been looking for an artist who could measure up to the music of classic Dylan, look no further, you’ve found his successor.