Unfamiliar Faces
by Matt Costa
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    With a plucky guitar, harmonica, piano, and sun-burnished vocals, Costa knows how to work gospel's euphoric uplift into secular music, though he follows the blueprints of his idol (a 'Hurdy Gurdy Man'-era Donovan) a tad too closely.
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    His second album is braver and more expansive and, in the case of 'Cigarette Eyes,' surprisingly angry. He's getting near to brilliant. [Feb 2008, p.95]
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  3. Filter
    76
    'Emergency Call,' with its Jerry Rafferty-esque hook, marks the highpoint of the album. But the ditties are offset by introspective ballads like 'Never Looking Back,' with its mournful melody, and 'Bound,' a song in which Matt gets his dander up and renounces a woman who’s wronged him.
  5. AllMusic
    70
    Matt Costa's sophomore effort, Unfamiliar Faces, finds the singer/songwriter delving into similar territory to his 2006 debut, "Songs We Sing," crafting hummable, somewhat intricate AM pop-influenced tracks.
  6. Hot Press
    70
    Many of the ditties on Unfamiliar Faces bring us right back to the golden age of singer-songwriters.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. MM.
    Mar 1, 2008
    5
    While I don't think it's quite as subpar as all the critics seem to feel, the album is missing something. Maybe it's While I don't think it's quite as subpar as all the critics seem to feel, the album is missing something. Maybe it's Costa's inability to come across as anything but a copy cat songwriter: he's doing nothing original here whatsoever. That's not to say the album is completely devoid of any redeeming qualities: there are some decent pop tunes here. However, I don't feel I'll be coming back to this very often during the remainder of the year.… Full Review »
  2. KevinB.
    Feb 24, 2008
    8
    This is an album that grew on me. After the first time i listened to it I didn't really like it that much but after seeing him preform This is an album that grew on me. After the first time i listened to it I didn't really like it that much but after seeing him preform live i haven't been able to put it down. It's the type of album that gets better eveytime you listen to it.… Full Review »
  3. AllenM.
    Feb 24, 2008
    6
    Just OK. It sounded a bit like Paul McCartney's newest. ("Memory Almost Full.")
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