Cognitive Dissonance, by Matthew Ebel

Cognitive Dissonance by Matthew Ebel, released 23 June 2017 1. I Will Take You Home 2. The Beating 3. Mister Speaker 4. I Suppose 5. Get Some 6. This Band Does Not Suck 7. Good Riddance 8. Coyote All Night 9. Better 10. We Can Move On Matthew Ebel’s latest album shatters one wall after another. His usual light-hearted writing shares the stage this time with more serious fare, but Cognitive Dissonance is anything but a drag. Topics like self-doubt, consumerism, and disenfranchisement are matched with equal levels of empowerment, hope, and even the humor his fans have come to expect. As Ebel describes it, “we build walls because actually solving conflicts is difficult. In reality, though, those walls are just thin panes of glass. When that glass breaks and you actually have to figure out what you believe… that is cognitive dissonance.” While Ebel may have dialed up the intensity of his arrangements for this release, the songs are still catchy and memorable as always. Some of the more relaxed tunes, like “Coyote All Night” and “This Band Does Not Suck”, harken back to his usual tongue-in-cheek style. On the other side of the wall are tumultuous songs about politicians, ambition, and self-image. The name Cognitive Dissonance belies the cohesion of the album. Infusing piano and soaring vocals with loud, raw, 90’s-alternative-inspired guitar and drums brings out the best of both worlds.