M Ross Perkins
What’s The Matter, M Ross?
Colemine/Karma Chief Records [2025]
“A power pop tour de force that reflects on life in our lonely, awkward world.”
Album Overview: M Ross Perkins is a longtime fixture of the Dayton, Ohio music scene, and has been one of its standout songwriters since his debut album was released nearly ten years ago (no small feat in a town with so much talent!). He signed with Colemine Records’ Karma Chief imprint to release his sophomore album E Pluribus M Ross in 2022, which was filled with smart, hook-filled psychedelic pop nuggets. On What’s The Matter M Ross?, Perkins gets introspective while maintaining the wry sense of humor that has always infused his music, resulting in an album that feels both intensely personal and endearingly relatable.
Musical Style: Perkins is a pop-rock classicist, influenced by host of 60s and 70s acts from both sides of the pond. Chiming electric guitars are usually at the forefront, but Perkins plays every instrument on the record and is equally adept at creating catchy power pop, twangy country rock, heady psychedelia, or even jazzy interludes.
Evolution of Sound: The overall vibe of What’s The Matter M Ross? is similar to E Pluribus M Ross, but where that album tended to dig into the psychedelic elements a little more this one feels leaner and punchier, emphasizing the songwriting, guitar playing, and Perkins’s vocals a bit more. Part of that slightly “rawer” feel is the fact that no guitar pedals were used—instead, guitars were plugged straight into the amps to give them a warmer, richer sound.
Artists with Similar Fire: The Beatles and The Byrds are two bands than instantly spring to mind when listening to What’s The Matter M Ross? Perkins’ sense of melody and vocal delivery conjure echoes of the Fab Four’s pre-psychedelic days (especially Lennon’s material), while the guitar lines have that “jingle jangle” quality pioneered by McGuinn and company. The fingerprints of Harry Nilsson, Emitt Rhodes, Todd Rundgren, and even a bit of Johnny Cash can be detected too, but Perkins has a way of blending those influences in a way that bolsters his own melodic strengths.
Pivotal Tracks: The album contains four short tracks (“Saccade” I-IV) scattered throughout that feature interviews with various people answering the question: “What’s the matter with him?” Who that “him” refers to is never explicitly stated and seems to change from track to track, but it reinforces the album’s more reflective tone with a bit of self-deprecating humor. The actual songs, though, are the album’s strong suit, and there are plenty of highlights—there’s the power pop bliss of tracks like “Hey Man/Hey Self,” “Gone (In The Morning,)” and “Baby, My Bad,” which contrasts nicely with the folk-rock jangle and twang of “Crying In My Sleep,” “That’s Fine,” and “Quite Right Kindly.” Songs like “Spiritual Kick” and “I Don’t Wanna Be So High” chug along and build up momentum as they go, while quieter moments like “I Feel So Dumb” and “A Date For One” offer gentler moments in between the higher energy tracks.
Lyrical Strength: Perkins’ lyrics are always a key part of what makes his songs so appealing, and his writing on What’s The Matter M Ross? is no exception. One of his signature moves is taking a stock phrase (“My bad” or “Hey man, don’t be down on yourself”) and turning it on its head by interpreting it in unconventional ways. But whether he’s poking fun at the absurdities of life in the 21st century or at his own insecurities, his lyrics are funny without being frivolous, biting without being bitter or cruel.
Final Groove: What’s The Matter M Ross? is one of those deeply personal albums that somehow manages to feel universal at the same time. Despite being a one-man effort, it’s an exceptionally warm, inviting record whose classic sound and songwriting make it easy to connect with. If anything is the matter with M Ross, it’s that not enough people have heard his music yet—something that hopefully this album can remedy.
M ROSS PERKINS REVIEW HISTORY
E Pluribus M Ross (2022) / M Ross Perkins (2016)
M ROSS PERKINS LINKS
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Colemine Records
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