You don't need an old record to recapture the spirit of great music. You can hear the reverberations of the past, and the sound of the future in one group... Matthew D and Random Tuesday. Breaking down the barriers of the blues while churning up a style and sound of their own, Matthew D and Random Tuesday create a solid mixture of rocking, original, pop based blues. Along with innovative cover material, they are blazing the modern road from the delta. Blues is a state of mind. Despite a blues emphasis wrapped in a pop package, their set of music makes it transparently clear just how grounded these tunes are in rock, country, jazz, hip-hop and gospel. This musical eclecticism is the canvas that allows Matt?s musical soul come up for air. Matt?s abilities as a composer, guitarist, singer, producer and band leader span a broad spectrum indeed, but the foothold of Mathew D and Random Tuesday is still fully ensconced with their unique stamp on the blues. Their all original debut album, ?NOTES FROM THE EDGE?, (produced, recorded, and written by Matt) is a passion filled, radio friendly, no holds barred production. From the beginning hook of the first track, ?Ain?t Man Enough?; to the heart felt, country inspired ?Here Come Those Tears?, to the jazz flavored, ?Shadows Of Love?, to the final track, there is something here for every one. This release will likely be followed by more reviews comparing the singer/songwriter to "John Mayer with the soul of Stevie Ray Vaughan.? With songs of love, loss and whatever strikes him at the moment. Always compelling, confounding, creative. Unparalleled, unforgettable, inappropriate, impossible. brilliant. Its where the music hits the road. On any given weekend you will find Mathew D and Random Tuesday somewhere around the Midwest entertaining their dedicated following. One niters have been the university that Matt has learned to perform. He is a master in working the room. His antics on stage mimic his animated personality off stage. This may be the drawing card but what holds the crowd is his soul searching voice and searing guitar. With a flamboyant style his flow of explosive, blistering guitar, is unpredictable and fresh no matter the venue or crowd. Every note an urgent cry and every phrase a statement; it is genuine, from the soul. Soul is something that can not be faked. You either have it or you don?t. Furthermore, the audience can tell when someone is playing from their heart. They can?t help but feel it and give back that same inspiration. That is the apex of music. It cuts deeper. Its lines run so deep, they penetrate the essence of a man. It is personal and individual and at the same time universal. Anyone who listens to MD?s words understands his message. That perhaps is the real meaning of soul, a connection. The band is young, energetic, and on the verge of a break though. The air tight rhythm section of Eugene Smiley (Brody Buster, Vernon Garrett) on 9 string bass and vocals, and Chris Lee on drums, make the band a force of reckoning. Originally starting out as a cover project, the band has started building momentum as an original act over the past year, With the June 2006 release of their debut album, "NOTES FROM THE EDGE", the band has started to reap the benefits of hard work and persistence. It has been recognized for its raw, straightforward blues / pop sound and unbelievably strong vocals. But don't let the strength of the disc fool you. Random Tuesday is a well-oiled, in-your-face, live band. With their energetic stage show, powerful vocals, and melodic guitar work, they will get your attention and keep it. In 2006 they began touring the world with Armed Forces Entertainment, bringing the best of America to the much deserving troops in Thule Greenland, Puerto Rico, Getmo, Cuba, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Matt takes his art and business very seriously. He is his own fiercest critic when it comes to songwriting and performance. Constantly trying to push the boundaries to provide the freshest modern blues today he has created his own brand of blues as varied as the young man himself. I think that is what this record comes down to, a young man hungry for success willing to do what it takes and impatient to get it on. Steven Goforth freelance writer c 2006