The Matches-
Decomposer (2006)
Genre: Pop Punk, Indie Rock, Post-punk revival
Label:
Epitaph
Producer(s):
Numerous
The
two words I would use to describe this album are: original and underrated.
Decomposer is the sophomore release of the band “The Matches”. From
the shrilling violin and yearning vocals from the albums opening track “Salty
Eyes” you know you are listening to something special. This band commands
your attention. The song “Papercut Skin” embodies the album as what it is: an
exciting, musically satisfying adventure which The Matches vocalist Shawn
Harris leads the way. The music is unpredictable from its breakdowns to the
unique bridges that occur in their songs. The song “Sunburn v.s. the Rhinovirus”
(produced by Mark Hoppus) is extremely fun. The song contains lines such as
when Harris bellows:
“I’m
de de decomposing
I’m de de decomposing
Below my clothes
I’m starting to decompose,”
I’m de de decomposing
Below my clothes
I’m starting to decompose,”
and
a zany section (I guess it would be considered the bridge ?) where it
goes:
“I
picked a bad day for the beach
Crowds of scarcely clad sides of meat
In spite of sunburn, I had a head cold
I blew my brains out through my nose.”
Crowds of scarcely clad sides of meat
In spite of sunburn, I had a head cold
I blew my brains out through my nose.”
Lyrical
content is often whacky, but brilliant at the same time. The album is filled
with clever word-play which will certainly make you rewind in order to see if
you heard the genius of it correctly. The album’s closer is “The Barbers
Unhappiness”. It is certainly the most somber of the bunch of songs.
Sounding more Indie-rock than the punk / pop fused rest of the album. The
ending lines of the album are:
“Do
me a favor, be rational
save me the labor of the breakup call
just assume the worst
when the phone don’t ring, dismiss me to the hearse,”
save me the labor of the breakup call
just assume the worst
when the phone don’t ring, dismiss me to the hearse,”
a
very somber ending indeed. The Matches had a very bright future when this album
released. Unfortunately, they are no longer together, breaking up in 2009. Decomposer
is certainly the gem in the bands catalog. Certainly, the album is a treat to
anyone who has never listened to it. Just go into listening to it with an
open-mind, take in all the wackiness and fun that this album has to offer.
Standout
tracks:
Salty
Eyes
Papercut
skin
Sunburn
v.s. The Rhinovirus
Didi
(My Doe Part 2)
The
Barbers Unhappiness
I don't know this group, but I look forward to your whole top 10. I try to keep up with current alt/independent rock, but usually only find the things that go semi-mainstream.
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