After more than four decades of making music, Matt Smith has arrived at his 20th studio album with something that feels less like a statement of anger and more like an honest attempt to understand the world around him. “…this is not ok…” is clearly concerned with the divisions and difficulties of modern life, but what stayed with me most is that Smith does not seem interested in simply telling us what is wrong. He is more interested in asking what we can do with it.
Recorded between Austin and New York, the nine-track album moves comfortably through roots, blues, soul, rock, folk and Americana. That variety gives the project a warm, lived-in quality, while Smith’s songwriting keeps the focus on people, emotions and the search for common ground.
“World Is a Wheel” is one of the tracks that immediately stood out to me. There is a sense of movement in the song that works well with the album’s wider themes, particularly the feeling that life keeps turning whether we are ready for what comes next or not. “Cry for America” takes a more direct look at the state of the country, while “Orphans” brings the emotional weight closer to the individual.
What makes these songs work is the perspective behind them. Smith has spent more than 45 years performing, writing, producing and teaching, and that experience comes through in the way he approaches difficult subjects. There is no sense that he is trying to manufacture outrage. Instead, the album feels like it comes from someone who has watched the world change and still believes people are capable of listening to one another.
I also appreciate the musicianship throughout the project. Smith’s background as a guitarist, producer and educator gives him a strong musical foundation, but the album never feels like a showcase designed simply to demonstrate technical ability. The performances serve the songwriting, allowing the emotional message to remain at the centre.
Smith’s history is impressive, with performances and collaborations involving artists such as B.B. King, Sheryl Crow, Trey Anastasio, Gregg Allman, Los Lobos and Buddy Guy. Yet for me, the significance of “…this is not ok…” is not really about the names attached to his career. It is about what he chooses to say now.
There is something quietly powerful about an artist responding to a fractured moment by choosing compassion instead of adding to the noise. “…this is not ok…” acknowledges the problems around us, but it does not leave the listener there. It reaches toward resilience, empathy and the possibility of finding common ground.
For me, that makes this more than a 20th album. It feels like a reflection from a lifelong musician who still believes music can help us understand each other.
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