Daily Loaf

The warm, breezy pop of Tampa native Matt Hires isn’t just something to hum along to on your way to the beach. Hires’s debut album, Take Us To The Start (F-Stop/Atlantic), is cleverly-crafted and interesting, full of sincerity and catchy melodies highlighted by his enveloping, gravelly tenor.

The album’s single, “Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song,” begins quietly then bursts into the chorus as Hires begs his lady not to run away, to listen to his words (as they come out wrong). It’s sweeping and expressive, but — as cute as Hires is — watching the completely unrelated music video kinda warps the experience. (Check it out after the jump.)

Maybe more recognizable to TV fans is “Perfect Day” and “Turn The Page,” songs featured on ABC’s Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy. Like several artists “discovered” by TV shows, the exposure was likely just the break Hires needed to get recognized by someone important in the industry.

“You In The End” is as shimmery and mellow as would be expected from a tune co-written by Sara Bareilles, and her sultry soprano is a nice compliment to Hires’ own unique tenor.

“You Are The One” sounds suspiciously like a Tristan Prettyman number, the tinny drum beat and slow, bouncing guitar pleasantly identical to Prettyman’s style, seeming to scream, “Let’s sit on this dock ’til we run out of s’mores!”

The whistled beginning of “Out Of The Dark” sounds like a gang of banditos riding over a hill, and lyrics like “Have I been a sinner/A lover or killer…In these violent days/I only want to be where you are” prove I’m right. Hopefully his homesick hombre got home to his señorita.

Hires appears in his hometownd and offers two performances this time around — this Sunday, August 30 at Vinyl Fever, and the following Friday, September 4 at The Orpheum in Ybor. Be sure to experience this man’s talent live.

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