Matchbook Romance - Voices Review
Overall Grade: A
Grade of Previous Album (”Stories and Alibis”): B-
Has Matchbook Romance turned into Silverchair? Not completely, but judging by “We’ll Run, But We’ll Find You” off their new album, “Voices”, you would think that Matchbook has completely changed gears. Boy, have they ever. They have abandoned the over-crowded and diluted emotional-pop-rock scene and hit us with a markedly matured song.
The end of the previously mentioned song was as big as a shock to me as was Finch’s giant leap from “What It Is to Burn” to “Say Hello To Sunshine”. As a matter of fact, I don’t even know where to begin classifying Matchbook Romance. They went from having the same exact sound as bands such as Taking Back Sunday, now they came out with something refreshingly original. It’s a mix of Silverchair’s “Neon Ballroom” with a touch of early-Radiohead. Lead singer, Andrew Jordan, doesn’t even sing anything like the nasal, whiny teenage sob story (although occasionally entertaining) that was their debut, “Stories and Alibis”. Long gone are the days of their catchy pop riffs, instead replaced with sonic ear bursting guitar solos and spacey vocals.
I’m serious, if you thought you knew Matchbook Romance, after listening to the first three tracks you’ll be changing your mind in a hurry. As a matter of fact, when I saw that MR released a new album I basically wrote it off as another band that will follow in the same vein as The Academy Is…, The Starting Line, Hawthorne Heights, The Early November, Boys Night Out, Hidden in Plain View, and on and on. Not to say that I don’t enjoy that music, but it has started to become monotonous, to say the least. However, they have totally left those bands behind.
Song likes “My Mannequin Can Dance” have such a harder edge compared to their previous work, you’d have no idea it was them. The hectic, heavy guitar work complete a dark piece of work that is among the tops of my rotation now. “Goody, Like Two Shoes” (which is reminiscent of a Fall Out Boy title), sound like they will be your upbeat tempo pop song, but turns out to a 7-minute rock opus that is far deeper than its title suggests. It is a slow-moving, dramatic song that hits the right notes. The lyrics are somewhat similar to their earlier songwriting, but they are enclosed in a mature musical sound that may not sit well with their once tween fans. I have a strong feeling they are going to lose that base with this album.
I really respect that as a single they released “Monster,” and in doing so they put out something that is completely different than they have released before. This is sure to sell less records, but at least they can have pride that they tried to do something unique. This is a strange song that sort of reminds me of Fall Out Boy’s “Dance, Dance” on acid.
By what I have said so far, you would probably think I loved this album. Well, you’re right. I do think it is a great album and was beyond surprised by it, but that doesn’t mean it is perfect. It’s a much improved album, but it receives a compliant much like Thrice’s “Vheissu” - the songs feel so similar to each other that they start running togehter. I would have liked if they had at least one more up-tempo songs because their fast paced “Fiction” is so impressive, I would have liked to have one more tunes like that. Even on the ballad side, “What A Sight” is light years beyond what “Tiger Lilly” was. However, you would have no idea that this is a love song if you didn’t listen to the lyrics, which is just another reason they needed to change gears for a second.
Overall though, this is a great album that deserves a lot of recognition, and the growing up of a band which deserves much respect. It’s dark, it’s somber, it’s melodic - I’d like to introduce you to the new, the improved Matchbook Romance.
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I’m not sure why you say it is sure to sell less records. Perhaps they changed their style, not for the reasons you suggested, but because they thought they could attack an entirely new audience while keeping their old one.
As you said, you think the direction they were going has been done too much, has become monotonous. Yet, you question their motives and warn that their decision will not do well for them financially.
I’m no music buff, but if we relate what they’ve done to what is being done on the Internet - being different specifically to stand out, than I think they might actually do better than they have previously by trying to switch it up a bit.
Their loyal fans will remain fans (and buy this album), while hopefully the style switch will bring in new blood. Here’s to hoping they are successful in that regard.
Colin D. Devroe on February 15th, 2006 12:12 pm
Not an MR fan at all, even in their old days when thy got their start opening for my boys in Millencolin (I proposed to my wife at a Millencolin show). However, I would like to just say the review is done very well, keep up the good work.
justinchuckharlan on February 15th, 2006 10:12 pm
Justin, did you hear the new album yet? If you weren’t a fan before you may at least want to give this one a chance. You may not like it, but it’s definitely not at all like the old MR.
Chris Fehnel on February 16th, 2006 9:57 am
Being that I dig Silverchair and you kinda equate the two, maybe I’ll check the album out.
justincharlesharlan on February 16th, 2006 12:19 pm
I don’t like it as much, its going to take some getting used to, but I’m glad they have made something unique. Great review by the way.
Jason on February 19th, 2006 6:04 pm
MR REALLY deserve A++ on this album the songsare better thanthe last album “fiction” “surrender” are my favorite songs on the album i din’t really like MR before but now there one of my favorite bands buy Their “CD”
Ralph G. on February 20th, 2006 3:54 am
I got a hold of the CD and did happen to enjoy it. Won’t be a heavy rotation disc for me, but it can take it’s place in my pile of CD’s I pop in every now and again. I’d give it 3 our of 5 stars I think.
justincharlesharlan on February 22nd, 2006 9:48 pm
I thought matchbook romances new cd was excelent. i found this review verry true, and kinda funny because finch had just broken up because of all the negitive feed back about there last cd(Say hello to sunshine). As much as i love matchbook romances new cd, there old one will always remain my favorite for there lyrics, and what the cd has done for me all the years. over all , i found that this was a great review, and that its a great cd to cheak out.
nicholas catania on February 25th, 2006 10:47 pm
Hey everyone thought you might want to check out Matchbook romance being featured on mtvU’s the Backstage Pass. http://www.mtvu.com/music/backstage_pass/
Kennedy on March 2nd, 2006 12:28 pm
i’ve always loved matchbook and when i bought this album although expecting something completely different i still loved every second of it, i agree with the review about the change of pace but true fans will remain loyal
Julz on March 16th, 2006 6:53 am
I really enjoy this album!
When I first listened to it, I was upset because songs like “Lovers and Liars” and the rest were gone. I left the cd alone for about a month and recently put it in the player to hear it again and loved it! I can’t wait to see what the next album will be like!
Carli on April 29th, 2006 3:27 pm
I think you can’t possibly compare ‘Voices’ to Finch’s ‘Say Hello To Sunshine’, yes they were both huge leaps, but Finch crossed the line. They lost a huge amount of fans by going in such a radical direction all of a sudden, whereas I believe that Matchbook Romance have, in a way, stayed true to themselves. I find this album incredibly enjoyable though. Four stars out of ten.
Addict on June 4th, 2006 8:51 am
is the cd out..? or is it coming out
MR FAN on October 1st, 2006 10:52 pm
MR FAN, this album is out. Came out Valentine’s Day last this year.
Chris Fehnel on October 2nd, 2006 10:31 am
I loved their old albums and am enjoying the new one greatly, however I think they’ve really developed a style much more like Muse, particularly ‘You Can Run, But We’ll Find You’ - great track but the melody and structure is so familiar to most of the tracks off Absolution.
Jake Tracey on April 23rd, 2007 1:29 am