Matt York’s Gently Used, is a tasteful, well put together record that leaves listeners with a nostalgic feeling of something they’re sure they’ve heard before but can’t quite put their finger on. York has a style of his own, blending elements of country, folk, and rock’n’roll. Spinning one track to the next, you’ll find a delightful listening experience in what York and his dynamite team of players have crafted.

My first listen I expected York’s hometown to be somewhere nestled in the Southwest or maybe even on the outskirts of some mountain town, but to this listener's surprise, York hails from Boston, Mass. York has always been from the northeast except for a small stint in Austin, Texas, which is what helped to light the country-fire under his ass. He recalls being a young child and seeing photos and posters of Willie Nelson and not exactly understanding who he was, yet knowing he liked him. This is not York’s first rodeo, as he has many other releases under his belt and at age 50 is still pumping out new material. When he’s not writing and recording his own material, he’s out on the road singing the songs of The Highwaymen, and keeping country music history alive along the highways of Massachusetts. In addition to being a country music historian, York is also an author, having just recently completed his first book (about the Highwaymen, no less), as well as a husband and father to two teenage daughters.

The title track “Gently Used,” boasts a timeless, gospel-feeling piano by Dillon Warnek, with a guitar solo that York himself picks, reminiscent of an old Willie Nelson tune. This particular song takes you to church in a feeling, but the sermon isn’t exactly what you’d expect. “There’s a time when she used to dance in Reno…” the song starts off with a somber piano, “and she’d brag like some minor leaguer might…” To me, this song is about a working girl who is past her prime, and looking for redemption in something that she’ll never find, but the beauty of York’s writing is that there are so many interpretations, but I know just what she means by, “let’s wait til the morning, I gotta see my other baby tonight?” When talking to York about this sad, somber tune he said, “I live a pretty happy life, and I write sad always, and every once in awhile I get down and I write a happy song.” So I asked him how he came up with the happy-go-lucky tune, “If You Want Love?”

After the death of his father, who was integral in York’s early musical career, he said, “I went out in the back deck and I wrote that song in like, that’s one of those like 20 minute songs, like ope! That one’s done.” The record kicks off with this driving country tune, featuring Joshua Hedley on fiddle, and Spencer Cullen Jr. on the pedal steel, while vocal harmonies pad behind a classic country guitar track laid down by Taylor Hollingsworth. The record was made almost completely remotely which gave York access to an all-star line-up including drummer, Tim Deneen, and pianist, Dillon Warnek. All of the players are more than competent and despite not hearing each other’s parts in real time, it came together as if they recorded simultaneously, almost as well woven as York's songwriting itself.

Gently Used was out on June 3rd on all streaming platforms.

Find more about Matt York below: