Angin Desember, Market Square, dan wajah-wajah yang menunduk ke layar ponsel. MATERIAL THINGS membuka dengan pemandangan Knoxville yang dingin itu, lalu ia langsung berlari dan kita diajak berjalan cepat di belakangnya.
Single kedua Matthew Steven Whitaker ini bergerak dengan energi folk rock yang tidak sabaran. Dua gitar rubber bridge, satu standar dan satu bariton, ditumpuk dengan gitar elektrik. Bas, keyboard, dan drum mengisi sisanya, plus shaker yang sesekali menyelip. Racikannya padat tapi tetap renyah, dan kita tidak diberi waktu untuk duduk.
Yang paling menarik justru satu kata. Di bait pertama, orang-orang yang sibuk menggenggam “material things”. Di bait kedua, para tunawisma di Old City dengan papan kardus bertuliskan “SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE” menggenggam “immaterial things”. Di bait terakhir, giliran Matthew Steven Whitaker sendiri yang menggenggam “my material things”. Ada kejujuran yang tidak nyaman di situ, karena sang penyanyi tidak berlagak jadi penolong dan mengaku ikut sibuk dengan kebutuhannya sendiri.
Keberatan saya kecil saja, whiskey dan bar muncul di hampir setiap bait MATERIAL THINGS. Lama-lama kita seperti mampir ke bar yang sama berulang kali.
Lirik Lagu Matthew Steven Whitaker – MATERIAL THINGS
I felt the cold December wind Walking on Market Square So many faces I should know But I don't know how or where I can see everyone's alone Staring into their phones Searching the town for a new place Another bar, a whiskey drink Talking lots of shit to fake friends Wasting away to bitter ends Talking to themselves in the street Holding their material things Holding their material things It was a quarter after three Walking the Old City I didn't need another drink But there's a bar right down the street I saw a cardboard sign it said SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE People were building up their beds With tattered clothes and paper bags Asking around for spare change A cigarette or a whiskey drink Talking lots of shit with no friends Wasting away to bitter ends Talking to themselves in the street Holding immaterial things Holding immaterial things I spent the morning sleeping in Trying to clear my head Playing the memories from my phone Wishing (that) life was fair Where is the kindness I could show? Why did I stop and stare? Feeling so sorry for myself But nothing (that) I could spare I don't care I need space My nicotine and a whiskey drink I'm talking lots of shit to make friends Wasting away to bitter ends I'm talking to myself in the street Holding my material things
Matthew Steven Whitaker Profile
Track Info & Review Summary
- Artist: Matthew Steven Whitaker
- Track: MATERIAL THINGS
- Genre: Singer Songwriter, Folk Rock, Indie Rock
- Release Date: October 23, 2026
- Label: Independent
- Rating: 3.9 / 5
- Reviewed by: ParaPop.net
Nuansa temaram dengan dengung gitar yang mengawang bisa kamu temukan dalam ulasan soft siren – Feeling Down serta nomor lawas di arsip Maya Allaire – Pronoia.
