On May 5, 2023, I went to my first Matt Maltese concert at Shaky Knees Music Fest. A year later, on March 19, I went to my first solo Matt Maltese performance at The Variety Playhouse, and on September 17, 2025, I attended my third (but not my last) Matt Maltese concert.
A mixture of indie rock, alternative pop, and some elements of jazz, Matt Maltese is arguably one of the best musicians of this decade. With timeless music and an old Beatles-esque vibe, Matt Maltese really is for everyone.
As a top 0.01% listener for the past three years, I consider myself worthy of ranking the top five best Matt Maltese albums. He currently has six studio albums out, the most recent, Her, dating May 16, 2025 and the oldest EP, In a New Bed, debuting in 2016. Throughout this time, Matt Maltese has amassed 5.8 million listeners, jumping from just around 160,000 listeners in late 2021 with the release of “As the World Caves in.” Although that song is what a majority of people know him from, the song is, in my opinion, far from his top songs written thus far. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is in the bottom tier of all of his songs.
You may be wondering, what is the best song written by Matt Maltese? To that, I have no answer. Many of his songs are too good to rank separately; however, a list of his top five albums is much more answerable.
In position five, we have Driving Just to Drive. This album, released in 2023, had many good songs on it, my favorite being “Suspend Your Disbelief;” however, because it was teased with different songs being released from it often, by the time it was released the excitement from it had left me. Although this album is last on the list, it is not a bad album at all, the competition between the other albums just happens to be heavier than what this title can hold.
Next, at number four, is the album Krystal, released in 2020. Including popular songs like “Krystal” and “Curl Up and Die,” this album holds many great songs on it. This album has two of my favorite songs on it, including the titles “When You Wash Your Hair,” and “Tall Buildings.” However, this title remains at position four, due to the next three albums being very hard to beat.
At number three, the album Bad Contestant appears. One of my favorite albums, this collection features Matt’s most well-known song, “As the World Caves In.” However, this album is special to me in different ways. The song “Rom-Com Gone Wrong” evokes such emotion in a person previously thought impossible. Although the song has cheery notes and a lighthearted jazzy feel, the lyrics are much more relatable and hit a lot harder. Seeing the song live at both concerts I have been to so far has meant a lot to me, and I hope I see it at the concert I attend tomorrow.
Sitting at number two is the EP In a New Bed. This EP, with just four songs in it, includes the first Matt Maltese song I ever listened to, in 2018. The four songs are arguably some of his best songs ever, but due to the length of the work, it has to remain at spot two.
Finally, at number one, is the album Good Morning, It’s Now Tomorrow. One of his least popular works, the album holds 13 songs, totaling about 45 minutes. The best work he has ever put out, the whole album does not contain a single skip. From jazz beats to bedroom and alternative pop, I would argue this album belongs somewhere up there on The Rolling Stones “Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” Every song on this album is award-worthy, sparking heartfelt emotion in every listener. Every time I attempt to put anyone on Matt Maltese, I always soft-launch them to this album, and I wholeheartedly believe that is why they have all become as hooked onto him and his music as I have.
Matt Maltese has quickly become one of the greatests artists and songwriters of our time, and anyone who disagrees with that has just not explored his music enough yet. I think everyone should have the gift of listening to a Matt Maltese song at least once, and my recommendation to all is to listen to “I Hear the Day has Come,” from the album In a New Bed.
