![The single cover for "Restless Heart"](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/02/6d/026d22f8c11588ebe94962797b21ddac.jpg?itok=J8cgCC-H "The single cover for "Restless Heart"")
Matt Hires is a pop and rock-driven singer-songwriter from Tampa, Florida. He has already got one album under his belt with 2009's "Take Us to the Start", which arrived to good reviews and peaked at #96 on Billboard's album chart, but didn't exactly propel him to fame. Here's hoping that his as-of-yet untitled sophomore album is a little more successful, because the lead single from his new EP "Forever", entitled "Restless Heart", is iTunes' single of the week as of today, and it's pretty darn good.
It opens with banjo and a folksy feel very reminiscent of Mumford and Sons, except for when his voice kicks in. It's got much more of a gruff rock feel, but it all transmutes into pop goodness as soon as they make it to the chorus. Banjo seems to be a theme with iTunes, as it carries on throughout the entirety of the track—which isn't to say it's not welcome.
Lyrically the song is about being duped by a girl who ends up being quite a...well, not quite as kind as expected. What makes it a little less drab than usual here is how Matt seems to be singing it all with a smirk, as if he's caught on to her game and isn't going to give her the pleasure of wringing every last ounce of self-respect from him. The bridge features his vocals alone with the banjo, singing "pretty girls come from the ugliest places...you come from the worst of them all", seemingly stifling a laugh during the second half.
The blend of the drums, guitar, banjo and Matt's fun vocals make the song worth a listen. It's a fun pop-rock track that could easily find some airtime if it gained enough popularity and his unwillingness to take himself too seriously saves the track from being melodramatic mush. Click the link above to get the song (c'mon, it's free!) and head over to iTunes to get his new EP for four measly dollars.
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