MATT BERNINGER - Type It Up

After taking part in “Is This All There Is?” by Anna Calvi, a year on from “Get Sunk”, Matt Berninger opens “Type It Up”, his new EP, with an angry, boozy prayer. “Martini Me Fatso” was born - like other tracks on the new release - out on tour, with contributions from his fellow travellers on this solo adventure: Julia Laws on keyboards and backing vocals, drummer Sterling Laws, Garrett Lang on bass, and above all guitarist and producer Sean O'Brien, who was also behind the console for his second solo record.
Rollicking and seasoned with his trademark irony, “Martini Me Fatso” stars a character named Monica. For anyone wondering about the meaning of the chorus, Monica is the harmonica that spices up the track from the National frontman. Riding that same wave of inspiration and vitality, immediately captured in the studio, is also “Ask For Water”. With more aching shades and lyrics in pure Berninger style, the track unleashes a tense, electric chorus that culminates in a closing guitar solo.

Having already paid tribute to them on “First Two Pages Of Frankenstein” with “New Order T-Shirt”, Sumner's band is celebrated once again here with a cover of “Blue Monday”. It's a rock rendition already aired live back in 2025, which accompanied the band on tour until just a few months ago. “Type It Up”, meanwhile, was originally titled “Invisible Jerk” and then “Black Letter Font” in its early live outings. It opens with the light/dark brushstrokes typical of Berninger's songwriting palette and gives us the EP's most anguished track:

I have no version control and so much love
Do you think you would still want me
If I was just, just a speck of dust?
I still want you
But I’m an invisible jerk

Closing out the EP is a cover of “Who Loves The Sun” by Velvet Underground, recorded for the TV series “Sunny Nights”. Here Berninger doesn't reinvent the original, instead preserving its freshness, duetting with Rosanne Cash. It's not the first time he's tackled a song by Lou Reed's band, and this time he enlists a legend of American country music, who had already lent her talents to “Crumble” on “Laugh Track”. For those who want the complete package, the vinyl edition also includes the “Acoustic Live In Australia” version of “Martini Me Fatso”.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google

23/09/2026