Album Review: The Matches - A Band in Hope

Originally published April 02, 2008 in The Orion

The Matches
A Band in Hope
Epitaph Records, 2008
2/5 stars


Oakland's The Matches is not the type of band that uses the same pop-punk formula album after album, but its third release falls short of previous efforts.

The band worked with nine producers for its sophomore release, "Decomposer," and created a coherent collection of songs. Chamber and electronic music were combined with high energy and a fast pace.

Again, the band tried to experiment with varied sounds on the new album but worked with fewer producers. The result was not as successful. "Point Me Toward the Morning" sounds like very other pop-punk song. Repeating lines in "Future Tense" have an odd resemblance to the 1979 hit by The Knack, "My Sharona."

The Matches does show its versatility with the bright and poppy "Wake the Sun" and by pushing the envelope with the dark, piano-driven "Darkness Rising."

"A Band in Hope" has its highlights but does not do justice to the band's talents.