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Matt the Electrician: It's A Beacon It's A Bell - COMPACT DISCSTitle: It's A Beacon It's A Bell Artist: Matt the Electrician Label: South Central Music Product Type: COMPACT DISCS UPC: 884501950145 Genre: Rock Release Date: 2007 08 30 Number of Discs: 1 Matt the Electrician crafts sharp narratives with equal measures heart and home. Evidence: It's a Beacon, It's a Bell. The longtime Austin resident's excellent new album showcases a seasoned songwriter in top form. "Look out the window at the road rushing by," he
Title: It's A Beacon It's A BellArtist: Matt the Electrician
Label: South Central Music
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 884501950145
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 2007-08-30
Number of Discs: 1
Matt the Electrician crafts sharp narratives with equal measures heart and home. Evidence: It's a Beacon, It's a Bell. The longtime Austin resident's excellent new album showcases a seasoned songwriter in top form. "Look out the window at the road rushing by," he sings on the stunning "Muddy Waters." "The shatterproof glass breaking up in your eyes/Your own private movie when things fall apart/Everyone's trying to break your heart." Details whittled from real experience frequently fortify his songs. "Muddy Waters" backs the claim. Matt dreamed up the song as he drove around Austin with his 12-year-old daughter after a big storm. Water under the Lamar Bridge was brown and green, colors he thought an interesting mix. "Yeah, it's dirty, Dad," his daughter said, unimpressed. "Muddy Waters" deftly charts our decidedly varying perceptions at different times in our lives and with age comes an acute awareness that everything moves in cycles. Listen closely. Lessons quickly emerge within the song's ebb and flow. Like "Muddy Waters," Matt's songs typically mirror his family life and the complexities of living as a touring musician and father, often far from home, on the move and unable to be in touch. Accordingly, It's a Beacon, It's a Bell offers several uniquely personal and autobiographical portraits brimming with universal truths. High watermarks deliver stark snapshots as engaging as enlivening. Sparse landscapes guide the journey. In fact, Matt has wanted to make this stripped-down record, a collection entirely with just guitar and vocals, for some time. These songs simply fit the mood. In some cases, they're admittedly quieter by nature and comfortable to play without accompaniment and longtime fans certainly will celebrate the evolution. While Matt has a local band, he tours internationally as a solo act and the most common question he hears on the road: "Hey, which record sounds like what you just did?" Well, It's a Beacon, It's a Bell finally offers the answer. Revisit the lush Accidental Thief (2011) for comparison. It's a Beacon, It's a Bell shines with simplicity. The new album effortlessly backs deep-browed story songs with an intangible everyman appeal, a characteristic folks quickly gravitate toward. "As a songwriter, Matt is able to balance honesty and sincere sentiments with really engaging story telling and humor," says instrumentalist and frequent collaborator Scrappy Jud Newcomb. "It's not always easy to pick out his influences, which I think is fantastic." In fact, Matt cites one legendary songwriter with lighting his creative fires as he wrote It's a Beacon, It's a Bell: Townes Van Zandt. While he loves being immersed in Texas songwriters who tell a straightforward story, Matt's most drawn to the Lone Star State's most elegant lyricist, a songwriter he only discovered upon moving to Austin in 1996. Like the boundless poetry moving forward Van Zandt's writing, Matt focuses these new songs more directly on the poetry of his words, finding ways to leave all the right lyrical holes while coloring in details important enough to spark imaginations. "Matt's greatest asset as a songwriter is his natural ability to tell a story," says Austin-based singer Seela Misra. "The world in his retelling is brutally honest, tender and hilarious at the same, a comforting combination. Equally comforting is his singing voice. You believe what he tells you." Key words: Honest, tender, hilarious. Yes, Matt's most thoughtful moments mirror Van Zandt. They shadow Guy Clark. Haunt every great Texas storyteller with an eye for triumph and truth. Still, every lyrical twist and turn maintains his own unique style and substance. "I think Matt will be an influence on a lot of songwriters in the future," Newcomb says. "What really stands out about Matt as a performer is he makes every crowd his own. By the end of his set, no matter who they came to see, the audience will be Matt the Electrician fans."
Tracks:
1.1 It's a Beacon It's a Bell
1.2 Only for You
1.3 Arkansas
1.4 Muddy Waters
1.5 The Family Grave
1.6 Pioneer Bride
1.7 Shivering
1.8 John Elliott
1.9 Under the Wire
1.10 Last Ones Left
1.11 Suitcase
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4.7 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 1
Shelf wobbles and sits at an inclined angle after mounted.
Color: Oak, Size: 28" W x 7" D x 1.5" H (2 pieces)
While the shelf looks nice, it didn't work as it should. I anchored and screwed in the black metal bracket pretty well, and it stays perpendicular to the wall and doesn't wiggle or wobble one bit. But as soon as I slide in the wooden shelf, the whole shelf wiggles and settles at an inclined angle. Putting in the two screws down on the shelf did nothing to help with the wobbliness. I may have to glue down certain big decoration in fear of it sliding down the shelf, though that may be a bit overcautious and exaggerating.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Very good quality
Color: Black, Size: 24" W x 7" D x 1.5" H (2 pieces), Color: Black, Size: 24" W x 7" D x 1.5" H (2 pieces)
Very good quality
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Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Easy install.
Color: Black, Size: 32" W x 7" D x 1.5" H (2 pieces)
Easy install, and very pretty. Can't go wrong with this purchase.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Solid Floating Shelves 🛠️🏠
Color: Black, Number Of Shelves: 4, Size: 15.7in
I have installed four sets of the black floating shelves in my office. They are made of high quality materials, featuring a sophisticated black woodgrain finish with a natural texture. Supposedly, each unit can handle up to 22 pounds, though I would not recommend testing that limit with your vintage bowling ball collection if you value your flooring. They are awesome.
The value is good for a set of two. Each shelf measures 22x7x1 (56x17x3 cm) inches, providing a decent amount of storage for books or decor. The installation was straightforward since the hardware for multiple wall types was included. They work well in the kitchen for spices or in the bedroom for personal belongings.
One tip for a secure fit: use a level during installation and make sure the bracket is flush against the wall before sliding the shelf on, or your photos might look like they are sliding off a mountain 📐
These shelves offer a clean, modern look and stay stable once mounted correctly. They are a practical choice for adding functional display space to any room 🖼️
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Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Good looking shelves and easy install - skip the included drywall anchors
Color: Black, Number Of Shelves: 2, Size: 22in
I installed these shelves in a bedroom to get things off my dresser and some decor. Once mounted they look really nice. The black finish looks clean and modern and they blend in well with the room.
Installation was pretty straightforward. The metal bracket mounts to the wall first and then the shelf slides over the bracket. As long as you take your time lining things up it’s a simple project.
One thing I strongly recommend is not using the white plastic self-drilling drywall anchors that come with the kit. I’ve used that style before on other projects and they tend to strip out easily and leave larger holes in drywall. I used better anchors instead and the shelves mounted much more securely.
The rest of the hardware worked fine and once installed the shelves feel solid and hold items well.
Pros
- Clean modern look
- Easy installation
- Feels solid once mounted
- Good size for books or decor
Cons
- The small level included isn’t very accurate — use your own level
- One of the metal brackets was slightly bent out of the box but straightened out easily
Helpful tip:
Use your own level and better drywall anchors if you have them. It makes installation easier and the shelves will mount much more securely.
Final thoughts:
For the price these are nice looking floating shelves that install easily and work well for light storage and decor.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2026