If Matt Costa is an unfamiliar face to you, you may want to get familiar with him soon because he's most likely destined for the big time in 2008. Signed to Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label in 2006, Costa's debut Songs We Sing was an instantly likeable collection of songs that caught the attention of one Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse and just like that, Costa was the opening act for Modest Mouse; one of the most high profile tours of last summer.

Costa's sophomore effort Unfamiliar Faces is actually a step up from his debut, showcasing Costa's ability to jump around different music styles and end up with something that's totally his own. The best tracks here are actually at the beginning and the end of the record. The piano-led stomp that is album opener "Mr. Pitiful" is my absolute fave, but the close second is the closer "Miss Magnolia" that blends a Bluegrass style of mandolin and banjo perfectly. The Harry Nilsson-esque "Emergency Call" is also wonderful as well, with the chorus here resembling that of Nilsson's crowd favorite "Coconut." Just as Ben Harper ushered in Jack Johnson a few years back, don't be surprised if Johnson's tutelage ends up making Matt Costa a star in the not too distant future.