Matt Smith Discusses Robert Plant, Mighty ReArranger

Austin-based producer, engineer, singer-songwriter and educator Matt Smith joins Al to talk about Robert Plant’s 2005 album, Mighty ReArranger. Matt discusses why he chose this album for his short list of albums to talk about, and Al explains why he picked Mighty ReArranger from the albums on Matt’s list. Matt talks about the elements that make this album a high point in Plant’s solo discography and the role that members of Portishead played in making the album.

Learn more about Matt and his work at https://www.mattsmithsworld.net/.

You can also get information on Matt’s studio and music school, Six String Ranch, in the following places.

Website: https://6stringranch.com/

Facebook: @6stringranch

YouTube: @6stringranch148

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2:35 Matt’s introduction

4:09 Matt and Al talk about how they arrived at deciding to talk about Mighty ReArranger

10:26 Matt explains how Plant incorporated elements of world music into the songs on the album

14:13 Matt makes note of the parts of the album that harken back to Led Zeppelin

18:36 Matt and Al talk about the challenges Plant faced when he began his solo career

23:04 Matt has a theory about why Plant was able to reach new heights as a solo artist on Mighty ReArranger

28:34 Matt discusses how he borrows from music that he admires

33:31 Matt compares the arcs of Plant’s and Jimmy Page’s solo careers

35:02 Matt breaks down various sections of “The Enchanter”

39:31 Matt talks about “Freedom Fries” and the counting trick he learned from Trey Anastasio

42:25 Matt discusses the origins of the guitar pattern and rhythm on “Mighty ReArranger”

46:51 Matt talks about the lengths to which he geeks out on musical analysis

Outro music is from “World Is a Wheel” by Matt Smith.