The Tallest Man on Earth

Discovering Kristian Matsson, better known as The Tallest Man on Earth, has been one of the great pleasures of this past year for me (musically speaking). The first time I heard his voice, with his lone guitar, I knew that I was in for something special. There is no doubt that his style and voice are reminiscent of one of the great American singer-songwriters (listen and you will instantly know who it is). But his unfiltered voice, guitar, and story telling just feels so unique and original in today's music environment where everything feels pulled, pushed, and processed. Leave it to a Swede.

Burden of Tomorrow from Matsson's new album The Wild Hunt, is just a great example of his wonderful story telling. 

Oh I was sent to find the lonesome place

Where I was lost but left to trace

By carving riddles on the lonesome vine

Oh but rumor has it that I wasn't born

I just walked in one frosty morn

Into the vision of some vacant mind

Oh once I held a pony by its flagging mane

And once I called the shadow in the turning game

But I will fight this stranger that you should fear

So I won't be a burden of tomorrow dear

Aww Xavier's on the border of the sun

Swings on the chambers of your guns

And tries to shoot the chord and light the path

Aww but hell I'm just a blind man on the plains

I drink my water when it rains

And live by chance among the lightning strikes

Oh once I held a glacier to an open flame

And once I felt like wildcat in the fallen game

But I will fight this stranger that you should fear

So I won't be a burden of tomorrow dear

Oh the singer's on the edge to feed the canyon's mouth

They will go on forever til they sing you out of time

But I will fight this stranger that you should fear

So I won't be a burden of tomorrow dear


Matsson has released two full length albums, Shallow Grave, in 2008 and The Wild Hunt, earlier this year (2010). He has also released two EP's. The Tallest Man On Earth EP in 2006 and Sometimes The Blues is Just A Passing Bird EP, which was released this past September (2010).

While I have not finalized my top ten albums of the year, I will say that The Wild Hunt is definitely in the running to make my top ten.

There is a lot more that I can say about Matsson. But instead, I will let his singing speak for itself. Check out Matsson performing two of my favorite songs below. You can also listen to Burden of Tomorrow. 


Matsson performing Where Do My Blue Bird Fly last year at KEXP here in Seattle.





The Gardener, performed at Music Inn World Instruments in NYC as part of The Take-Away Shows.





Other Listens:

  Burden of Tomorrow