Logan Metz - The Last Remaining Payphone in L.A. (Self-Released)

Singer-songwriter Logan Metz’s jazzy crooning feels like a breath of fresh air; blown in from the not too distant past, and landing faultlessly on his solo debut album, The Last Remaining Payphone in L.A.. Metz’s songwriting style derives from a long tradition of storytelling pianists from California like Randy Newman and Tom Waits, which makes it all the more surprising to find out Metz is actually currently based out of Chicago. Even his barefooted playing style on the cover is reminiscent of sunnier shores, but perhaps it’s not that shocking, because there is slightly more of a chilliness and a sense of isolation pervading the album that separates him from his influences and his peers.

The production of the album is fantastic—lush strings and a horn section warmly embrace Metz’s enthusiastic piano playing and clever lyrics on songs like “Jericho” and the smokey jazz of “Almost (All Mine).” Even with the record’s large sound, Metz is the true star of the show; the dulcet tones of his voice seemingly torn out of a different bygone era. A stunning debut, The Last Remaining Payphone in L.A. is out October 21st, and has all of the possibilities within it to make Logan Metz one of America’s next great troubadours.