The Matches - Decomposer [2006]

Decomposer is the only album by The Matches that I really like, but I adore it. It is full of incredible guitar riffs, sing-along choruses, and is just quality music. As Alek and I have commented while listening to this album, there are some moments in the songs that are musically perfect.

Despite repeated listenings, I can't manage to get into the first track. It sounds completely awkward with the carnival music and slow tempo and seems a poor choice for an opener. But don't let that keep you from listening on, because the second song, Drive, quickly picks up the slack with a jamming guitar intro that leads on to one of my favorite songs on the album. Continuing the great songs is Papercut Skin, which has probably my favorite lyrics on the album, and more great instrumental work. Following is Clumsy Heart, my favorite Matches song, and so perfect in every way. After two mediocre tracks, comes Sunburn Vs. The Rhinovirus, another of my favorites, which has a great shout-the-words chorus.

Lazier Than The Furniture is next, and is one of the weakest tracks, mainly because it is so repetitive. Didi (My Doe Pt. 2) features great harmonizing by the multiple vocalists, and has a different, more mellow, sound. You (Don't) Know Me shows off The Matches penchant for making music that sounds, for lack of a better word, weird. It totally works on this song though, and My Soft & Deep continues this weird sound, but is a bit heavier. Shoot Me In The Smile sounds much more straightforward and is an enjoyably rockin track with some of the best vocals on Decomposer. The Barber's Unhappiness closes the album on a softer note, but I'm not sure the sound really works for the band, and the song seems a little too long.

The Matches strongest point is by far their creatively experimental instrumentals. The guitar hooks are catchy, the bass is groovin, and the drums perfectly accent. The vocals (by all three vocalists) are full of emotion, and fit each song well. Which brings me to Decomposer's lyrics. At times they are brilliant (I've been waking all my life to become what I'm going to be... A headstone), at times just strange (In the half-life of balloons,we will measure how our hair's grown) and, as the title promises, there's plenty about decomposing. It seems that the album starts out fairly straightforward and by the time the last track ends it is quite odd (the wide range of sounds could be because nine producers worked on it.) But that really works out for the best; Decomposer is an original, creative, and enjoyable listen.

Genre: Indie, Art-Punk

For Fans Of: Bayside, RX Bandits, Matchbook Romance

Contact: Myspace

Tracklisting:

1. Salty Eyes

2. Drive
3. Papercut Skin
4. Clumsy Heart
5. Little Maggots
6. What Katie Said

7. Sunburn vs. the Rhinovirus
8. Lazier Than Furniture

9. Didi (My Doe, Part 2)
10. You (Don't) Know Me
11. My Soft and Deep
12.Shoot Me in the Smile
13. The Barber's Unhappiness

-T