B-Side Guys

There’s something inherently honest about capturing a performance in a single take, straight to tape. In “Dropped The Ball,” Matthew McNeal embraces this unfiltered approach, creating a moment of alt-country authenticity that serves as perfect prelude to his fifth studio LP scheduled for April 2025 via Matte Black Sound Company.

The December-released single benefits tremendously from its minimalist production philosophy. Without digital safety nets, McNeal’s vocal performance carries genuine emotional weight—each phrase rising and falling with natural breath and intention rather than pieced-together perfection. This organic quality perfectly complements lyrics centered on forward momentum despite missteps, creating thematic and technical alignment that elevates the entire piece.

City & Colour’s Matt Kelly provides the track’s secret weapon—pedal steel that weaves through the composition with ghostly precision. Kelly’s contributions add dimensional depth without overwhelming McNeal’s central narrative, creating emotional counterpoint that enhances the song’s bittersweet tone. The pedal steel serves as perfect auditory embodiment of the song’s core message about embracing life’s contrasting elements—”the good, the bad, and the in-between.”

The narrative progression unfolds with cinematic economy. Opening with immediate departure imagery (“Grab my bag/Gone away again”), the track establishes both physical and emotional escape. This movement accelerates through admissions of familiar patterns and stubborn self-reliance, culminating in the potent declaration that closes the track—suggesting both resignation and release from past concerns.

McNeal’s sophisticated songwriting reveals itself through structural restraint. Rather than relying on complex metaphors, he creates resonance through carefully chosen concrete details and straightforward admissions. The recurring motif of continuing forward despite fumbles becomes more powerful through repetition, transformed from athletic metaphor into life philosophy.

As harbinger of McNeal’s upcoming full-length release, “Dropped The Ball” suggests an artist embracing both technical and emotional authenticity. By committing to tape’s imperfect permanence and exploring themes of resilience through error, McNeal has created something that feels simultaneously timeless and perfectly aligned with contemporary alt-country’s search for genuine connection.