Recommend

Album Details

• Artist: The Matches
• Album: A Band In Hope
• Label: Epitaph
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: Dennis Scanland on 2008-05-22
• Viewed: 1152 times

There weren't a lot of people who thought the Matches could release something more impressive than Decomposer. A Band In Hope is the album that they attempted this lofty goal but I think they may have fallen short, although just slightly. The album starts off fantastic with "AM Tilts", a song that took me a couple listens to really enjoy. It starts out a bit slower but has a nice build to it, a very cool song. Then they take on a glam rock persona with "Their City". And just to switch it up a little more on "Wake Up The Sun" we are presented with an almost straight up pop song with a super-catchy chorus. That's just the first three songs.

The piano kicks in on "Darkness Rising" to accompany some breathy vocals for a gentle torch song, complete with a great choir-like background vocals, until it breaks out into a musical style climax at the end. Back to the pop on "To Build A Mountain". This one is a little quirky but it holds true to The Matches amazingly eclectic sound. I found "We Are One" to be a tragic case of a song lacking good lyrics, and I'm not a lyric guy. It's got some good hooks in it but the repetitive lyrics really get in the way of the song.

"When we are loud, we are one x 50"

"Point Me Toward The Morning" starts to bring the Matches back on track but this one felt a little weak as well. The next track though, "From 24C", was a downright snoozer. "Between The Hallows" rocked! I can understand why the Matches doesn't fill the album with rockers but this fan would love it. They do have some clever lyrics like on "Yankee In The Chip Shop".

A Band In Hope was a little hit and miss. More hit than miss though. I do believe that I'll be returning to this album from time to time, which is something to be said. Did they trump Decomposer, nope. Not quite, but this is as close as a band could hope for (pun intended).

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Review:

on 2008-05-22 lekwon Said:

The Matches have enthusiastically promoted A Band in Hope with posters and the likes up until its release. The most amusing facet of all their "commotion promotion" has been their catchphrase to lure in new listeners. It has been to their advantage that they began advertising A Band In Hope by saying that the CD is "For fans of wishing on 11:11, spooning with pitbulls, and mistranslations on Japanese video games," among other things. In the end, The Matches have made it clear that they truly are a band as weird as we are, and this is why A Band in Hope seems to be peculiarly enjoyable for a lot of us.

The Matches are masters of variety. Their punk rock roots have branched out into more experimental genres, clearly seen in the quirky ballad "Clouds Crash" and the airy "From 24C". Blend these gems with songs like "We Are One," which is a retake of the fast anthems that were originally what differentiated The Matches from the pop-punk scene years ago. The biggest surprise of the album is probably "Darkness Rising," which is sung by guitarist Jon Devoto with a dazzling performance reminiscent of Queen's very own Freddie Mercury.

The Matches are also at the top of the list in terms of lyrical and melodic poignancy. Vocalist and guitarist Shawn Harris relies on metaphorical language and anecdotes to verbalize the feastings of his intellect. Upon first listen, the lyrics can be quite mind-boggling, but the beauty of his words is very visible. Similarly, both Harris' and Devoto's use of voices as more than just singing is admirable; this is greatly manifested in their sound effects and chants in "To Build a Mountain" and "Yankee in a Chip Shop".

I give The Matches' A Band in Hope 9 out of 10 stars, for I believe that their best is yet to come, judging by the tremendous progress that they have made with this album. I am wishing for the rapid arrival of their best record every night at 11:11 in bed with my pitbulls.
Rating: 9/10