Disco de Matchbook Romance: “Stories and Alibis”

I admit it. I never listen to punk. I own 40+ rap albums, and no punk or anything else. So I have what you call a "closed-mind" when it comes to other genres of music. I was introduced to this band, and I found out you can listen to all the tracks online. So I let them play, and went to sleep. When I wake up, most of my bad judgement of music is gone. And what I heard was the song Tiger Lily, it just happened to be on this song. It was really good!! I couldn't believe it, that I was actually diggin something that wasn't rap. But, I really really liked it. Now, that I'm one of their newest fans, I am gonna buy the cd. I can't wait. I read their lyrics a lot now and try to sing along. The lyrics are so good and it hits home when you listen to it. You can relate to this guy's lyrics, i dont know his name but he is really good. I hope he breaks through to the mainstream music soon so everybody can be exposed to this great music.

Ahhh.... where to begin? I think I'll start with the bad, since there's significantly less of it than the good. In fact, I really only have one complaint, and it's more a matter of personal taste, I guess. And it's the vocals. Mind you, they aren't bad, just I couldn't help feeling like the album could have rocked so much more with an excellent vocalist. Not to knock Andy's voice, he is talented, and I'm still giving the cd five stars. So with that out of the way, on to the good...

The album is solid on just about every point - the drumming, guitars, bass - all these guys are very talented, and the way they put it together is beautiful. The lyrics are incredible, especially in "Playing for Keeps" - which I consider the best song on here. Another thing I admired was the band's ability to sing out fast, hard, rockers (again, "Playing for Keeps") while also playing an acoustic song ("Tiger Lily") to perfection. The variety on the album is impressive, you won't be bored, and Matchbook Romance certainly doesn't fall into the "all the songs sound the same" stereotype that is prevalent these days.

I guess I'm expected to list off a bunch of bands that MR is similar to. I think a couple people have already made mention of Taking Back Sunday, and I would have to agree there. I also would draw a connection with Brand New, especially their first album ("Your Favorite Weapon"). But in reality, Matchbook Romance has it's own unique style and sound. One that is very aesthetically pleasing at that. If you're a fan of emo, or even pop-punk, you'll probably like this band, and I encourage you to give them a try.

Standout tracks on the album were: "Playing for Keeps", "Promise", "Shadows Like Statues", "My Eyes Burn", "If All Else Fails" and "The Greatest Fall".

ok.. ive heard quite a few rock bands... and i promise you.. this is a good one. The lyrics are meaningful and have something behind them.. they make sense, not just some poetic mindless babble some bands put together. And the music!! its awesome. definitely worth the buy. A few of the songs are slower... but they put a nice mix in of the hard core rock and the taking it down a notch to be able to actually sing. I highly recommend this cd.. and if you think it sucks.. oh well. If your still not sure. Go to www.matchbookromance.com and listen to the songs.. they have them all there to listen to

enjoy!

Matchbook Romance started out as The Getaway. These four young men (Andrew Jordan- Vocals, Guitar; Ryan "Judas" DePaolo- Guitar; Ryan Kienle- Bass; and Aaron Stern- Drums) rocked so well that Epitaph Records had to pluck 'em right off the Internet. "The Internet really played and plays a major part of our success as a band," says bassist Ryan Kienle, weeks before the band lets the leash off West for Wishing, their debut EP. A taut, five-tune taste of an LP to come later this year, WFW is ripe with layered emotional-hardcore melodies and sharp, passionate, pop song craft. Further, it's the fruit of unmerciful self-promotion via the Internet.

Matchbook Romance is one of my favorite bands period. They just plain rock, with lyrics most people could relate to. Their lyrics tend to be of love and loss. One of their latest ballads, "Promise", starts with just the lead guitar picking out a simple rhythm, the drums pick up, and the lead singer, Andrew Jordan, croons out the first line, "What would you say, if I asked you not to go? To forget everyone, forget everything and start over with me." Then it picks up in pace to a fast, emotional song of love, bringing the song to a screaming ending with the lyrics "Never let me go" and "...Left remembering what its like, to have you here with me..." Their first LP "Stories & Alibis" is simply amazing; every song on the LP seethes love and hate, loss and recovery. Even the soft song on the album "Tiger Lily" rocks. In my opinion MBR is one of the lead Emo-hardcore bands out there, and if you have any interest in punk rock or Emo you should own this album.

Epitaph sure scored big with this one. Not only was their e.p. good, but "Stories and Alibis" is amazing and literally blew my mind. Never have I like a cd so much on the first listen! From their smooth introduction to, my favorite song, "The Greatest Fall" the entire album is astonishing. The lyrics are so heartfelt and emotional that I feel as if I know exactly what the lead vocalist has gone through. Not only the lyrics but the vocals themselves are amazing. Finally an emo singer that can sing! Matchbook has put an end to the new trend of hardly praiseworthy pop punk bands that pretend to play music, but end up killing us softly with their tone-def vocals and no-talent instrumentals. Matchbook is refreshing, new, and what I've been waiting for in the music world. I literally could listen to this album on repeat for days, which is very rare considering most albums today have their ups and downs, but this one is solid all the way through. The band has definitely moved to the top of my favorite bands list, right above Backstreet Boys (just kidding). But really the album is phenomenal, and if you don't buy it you'll be missing out on one of the best bands to hit the emo scene. I guarantee you'll like it, if you don't, just tell me and I'll come over to your house and smack you over the head with a rubber boot (just kidding, again). Well, I've said enough. Just give 'em a try, they're gonna be big.