 "Photo: Courtesy of Terry Matsuoka")
Whenever the insert booklet is handwritten, you know the band's not messing around. Such is the case with San Diego State alumnus Terry Matsuoka's solo album, "Raw Acoustic Stylee."
The album contains a mixture of gentle satire, beatboxing, unpretentious idealism and gritty guitar licks. Matsuoka creates a uniquely poppy sound that manages to maintain a core that is unmistakably rocking, echoing his former involvement with punk bands.
"I had a lot of influences while growing up," Matsuoka said. "When I was kid, I was really into hip-hop and new wave, which was kind of funny, seeing as back in those days you either liked one or the other, and I feel that had a profound impact on me."
Aside from his musical tastes, Matsuoka's lyrical style fluctuates between the mournful and the joyous.
The song, "Where Did She Go," manages to maintain a strangely reassuring quality despite lines such as, "Then she disappeared on me / like gorillas in the mist / I looked once again / who is this cold-ass bitch / where's the caring sweet hootchie-coo / that I once knew."
It's a celebration of human pain, not for the sake of the pain itself, but rather as a reminder of the experience of being alive.
Also notable is "Big Brother," a good-natured critique of television culture accompanied by western-style galloping percussion with lines such as, "My friend when no one's there / turn on the channel when I get scared / just take me away / sell me food."
Despite his criticisms, Matsuoka said he doesn't see himself as a social commentator.
"Mostly I write about things which I find meaningful, but I'm not consciously trying to be a social activist, which is something pretty common in most folk singers," he said.
During live performances, Matsuoka performs live skits in between songs.
His more infamous stunts include drinking poison and pretending to be possessed by Elvis Presley's ghost.
Matsuoka also makes spontaneous improvisations of songs and has random beatboxing sessions. On the less-extreme end, he engages in casual rapport with the audience on everything from music to emulating old-school video games on his computer.
Matsuoka's effect on the audience is akin to that of a cool cousin you only see twice a year, yet wished would never leave.
Jason Riggs of The Weekly described Matsuoka's debut as "(a) handmade piece of art. The warmth and craftsmanship offers a direct connection to its creators."
With a vivacious attitude and a reputation to match, all indications suggest that Matsuoka will deliver a live performance just as compelling as his record.
-Terry Matsuoka will be performing from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Starbucks in Aztec Center.
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