The Tallest Man On Earth: Tiny Desk Concert

By Bob Boilen

Published September 14, 2009 at 8:54 AM EDT

The Tallest Man on Earth's Kristian Matsson is passionate, gruff, a great guitar picker and a damn good poet. Here are a few of his lyrics.

From "I Won't Be Found":

Well if I ever see the morning

Just like a lizard in the spring

I'm gonna run out in the meadow

To catch the silence when it sings

From "The Gardener":

I sense a spy up in the chimney

From all the evidence I've burned

I guess he'll read it in the smoke now

And soon to ashes I'll return

The melodies are strong, but Matsson's imagery and stories are what keep me returning me to his music — and to his excellent debut album, Shallow Grave. Here, he performs three of the disc's best songs, including the two powerful gems quoted above.

Set List

"I Won't Be Found"

"The Gardener"

"Pistol Dreams"

Tags

Music News from NPR

Bob Boilen

In 1988, a determined Bob Boilen started showing up on NPR's doorstep every day, looking for a way to contribute his skills in music and broadcasting to the network. His persistence paid off, and within a few weeks he was hired, on a temporary basis, to work for All Things Considered. Less than a year later, Boilen was directing the show and continued to do so for the next 18 years.

See stories by Bob Boilen