I could start this review off in exactly the same way that any other post-hardcore record has made me witter on about unoriginality and all that. Yet another day, yet another “emotional” band…yadda yadda yadda. Matchbook Romance signed to Epitaph after Mr Brett heard their MP3s on a Canadian webzine, funnily enough when they were under a different name and weren’t quite as angular in their riffery. But still, times (and bands) change and after an EP earlier this year, which was quite good I hasten to add, the band are back with ‘Stories and Alibis’, their first full-lengther.
And despite the negative opion I’ve already portrayed, it’s not that bad. Sure it’s unoriginal, has borrowed riffs a-plenty and Taking Back Sunday released the same record last year (ooh, the callousness!), but by-and-large the songs are catchy and do the job you’d expect them to do. There’s token shouting, breakdowns, screamy/melodic parts and all the good stuff that the likes of TBS and Thursday have paved the way for other bands to take some success. But compare this record to the EP and there isn’t much sign of progress. The production is slicker, but the songs themselves don’t sound much better – maybe six months wasn’t long enough between releases?
‘Your Stories, My Alibis’ is a keeper, a really strong opening song (discounting the intro) that has a driving melody that makes an instant impression, like all good openers should. Unfortunately the good parts this song contains aren’t found enough elsewhere, which is disappointing because MR can clearly play and write, even if they borrow from everyone else. ‘Playing For Keeps’ could be Senses Fail or Silverstein really, while ‘Promise’ slows the pace down but does little to really stand out in a flooded genre. The songs really are good but not great – and this sums up the album as a whole. There is a cohesion and a sense that MR have a gameplan and they stick reasonably well to it, but a lack of adventure costs them. There are highlights as ‘The Greatest Fall Of All Time’ is a stormer, even if it did feature on the EP, and ‘My Eyes Burn’ rages and rattles with some sweet melodies and harmonies, but both tracks are ‘safe’ – I’m sure another record will drop through my doormat next week and will contain something exactly the same.
When I first heard the EP I thought Matchbook Romance could be one of my new favourite bands, especially because I do like their style of music. But it’s all beginning to grate on me now, and for all the pretenders bands really have to step up to the ballpark and produce the goods if they are to make an impact. ‘Stories and Alibis’ contains some great moments, but not enough for my liking. Still, I’ll be sure to check them out live next time they come over to see if the tracks work better without the spit and polish. If you like the trendier side of the post-hardcore genre, Matchbook Romance will be your cup of tea. If you’re bored of it and want something a little different, I’d advise you to stay well clear….
www.matchbookromance.com
Paul