For Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson’s third full-length album as The Tallest Man on Earth, he doesn’t shed lingering Bob Dylan comparisons as much as tweak them. Instead of burrowing further into his own gravelly-voiced, literary-folk sweet spot, Matsson maintains a spare, natural center while introducing an electric palette. It’s his own “Bringing It All Back Home.” Slide guitars waltz through the song’s sonics, and Matsson’s yelps roar like a banshee in the night. The strength lies in his song writing, as he strays from lyrical specifics but rarely falls into outright metaphorical storytelling. The title track is heartbreak wrapped in piano and a fearless vocal performance. “There’s No Leaving Now” is an evocative record that feels like Matsson eschewing some of his acoustic strengths, but finding revelation in the blues. Grade: A-
 
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