Who knew that so much substance could come from such a small guy? Those familiar with Matt Butcher's 2008 debut LP – Me and My Friends – know very well, but newbies should still check out his latest full-length, Ghostwriting, to get acquainted.

The funding for recording of the 10-track effort came from countless hours of washing dishes, and Butcher's work ethic apparently extends to his songwriting, as every track on Ghostwriting fully displays the 27-year-old Orlando native's speedy evolution into one of the region’s finest songsmiths.

"The Road" touches on a desire to run while the title track reflects on what love looks like at the end of a lifetime; both are opened-tuned cuts that showcase a six-string prowess that should belong to a picker twice Butcher’s age. His observations on romantic interests shine on other tracks ("Below A Red Light," "What A Love"), but Butcher is luminescent on rowdy narratives like "Southern Bells" and album highlight "Four Seasons Hotel," the latter of which finds him spinning the tale of a young lady named Angela, who replaces a lost childhood by doing practically everything your mama warned you about. Quality at every turn. 4 Stars

This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2011.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...