The two least inventive reference points to call out for emotional singer-songwriter dudes are Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake ... but if you listen to "Elusive" and come up with one better, let us know (someone said Chris Whitley?). We'll go Drake in the guitar (and tuning, maybe?), Jeff in the tenor timbre and harmony haunts. Scott comes with building UK buzz thanks to this track beating the A*Monks for the Ivor Novello Award) -- and it's Matthews's best shot at nabbing the Buckley lover in you without you branding him "derivative." Give it a shot, this one's lovely.
Scott Matthews - "Elusive" (MP3)
Passing Stranger is tentatively scheduled for US release 9/25 on Universal Republic.
