Maybe My Love Was Just Right, the new record from Portland, OR musician Matthew Heller, feels like freedom. Like the freedom that comes from letting go; of toxic relationships, of anger, of self-imposed limitations. The record prickles with palpable energy, oscillating between agitation and exhilaration. Daring to seek freedom, from the myriad demons that plague humanity, is terrifyingly thrilling. A sudden lightening of the soul can be downright giddy. The dirty pop-rock of this record, fueled by propulsive rhythm and driving basslines, ignited by tight chords and tighter melodies, feels like that. When Heller started working with producer Mike Coykendall (M. Ward, She & Him, Bright Eyes), he was in between three different toxic relationships with partners that were abusive, malicious, and habitually cruel. For years he thought the key to writing good songs was to be found within heartbreak and loss. Even though he was writing and recording, something was wrong. Heller was going home from the sessions and breaking down into unrelenting sobs. He tried to hide it from his friends, producers, and bandmates, but eventually, his drummer, saxophonist, and close friend Ian Christensen told him he had to make a change. Heller released a beautiful record called Temple […]