Before the success of “Come On Get Higher,”
Matt Nathanson always seemed stuck in half-famous limbo, faithfully championed by a small group of fans but unknown to pretty much everybody else. Things changed when “Come On Get Higher” became his first platinum-selling single in 2009, earning props from American Idol and
Sugarland (who covered the song on the deluxe version of
Love on the Inside) along the way.
Nathanson keeps things consistent on his follow-up release,
Modern Love, making relatively few changes to the blend of singer/songwriter balladry and smooth, sanded-down pop/rock that made his previous album a hit. This may be the guy’s first record as a semi-star, but the glossy production and A-list cameo by
Sugarland’s
Jennifer Nettles are the only signs that
Nathanson has traded up, leaving behind the world of singer/songwriter anonymity for a slightly more mainstream place. Otherwise, he charts a steady course on these 11 songs, which should sound pleasantly familiar to returning fans. ~ Andrew Leahey