After an EP and a critically acclaimed debut LP, The Tallest Man On Earth? is hitting his very long stride.

The latest effort from Kristian Matsson is the kind of record that rejuvenates faith in the direction of music today. It’s a welcome testament to the fact that amongst all the MGMTs, Lady Gaga’s, and Ke$ha’s of the world, there is still enough room for thoughtful, well-written folk music.

Put simply, The Wild Hunt is a ten-song collection of perfectly picked, perfectly strummed, folk-bliss. It is elegant, energized, impassioned, and instantly likeable all at once. Clocking in at just over half an hour, one of the first great albums of 2010 has arrived.

From the first bar of the title track, the album’s ephemeral charm is on display. Banjo gets mixed over warm guitar strumming, and Matsson’s croon tells of sleeping in the glades while conveying his true intentions – “…left my heart to the wild hunt a-comin’/ I live until the call/ And I plan to be forgotten when I'm gone/ Yes I'll be leavin' in the fall.”

But this is a record that cannot be missed. It has its own unique voice while still being made of the same DNA of other great folk albums: Intricate guitar work rooted in simple chord progressions, accessible melodies, and introspective lyrics that simultaneously capture life’s fleeting moments while being timeless all the same.

Sure, some of the thoughtful (yet accessible) ramblings are pure Dylan, but Matsson’s voice and delivery remain pleasingly unique. The vocal on “The Burden of Tomorrow” tips its hat to the urgency and passion for life on Van Morrison’s “Cyprus Avenue,” and he even ditches the guitar to get his Journey on for the album’s piano-driven closer, “Kids On The Run.”

The kid has skills, too. “The Drying of The Lawns” showcases TTMOE’s picking prowess. It boasts an instantly likable vocal melody, subtly picked alternating bass notes that twinkle over high notes, and heart wrenching chord changes.

While the compositions are definitely moving, this isn’t melancholy folk in the vein of Pedro the Lion?. Matsson still commands a gift for interjecting fire and emotion into each album cut. The fiercely strummed guitar and impassioned vocals on “King of Spain” and “You’re Going Back” are great examples of The Wild Hunt’s energy – energy that will put life to tape and string together more than a few great albums.

He’s got enough backbone to last the test of time. Rest assured, when Gaga and Ke$ha are on Celebrity Rehab 18, you’ll still be able to close your eyes and have Kristian Matsson’s croon to keep you company.