I have been studying this band for quite awhile now. I heard Celebrate Your Mother on MTV2 at the time of their first album, I didn't think much of it and then they released a few singles and thought they were great. I wanted the first album Horse of the Dog but people were saying the album was rubbish, "It's only got 9 tracks, it's under 30 minutes, moan, moan, moan!" So I decided to wait and see what this band would do next. I did and saw the video for Rise of the Eagles. I was astonished and I remembered that they had a single before that called Mr. Mental. I just got it a couple of days ago and decided to do the review.
Rise of the Eagles
A drum beat starts the song off and Guy sings the chorus and then that's when the distortion comes in. Then several short verses come in. Near the end, there is a haunting bass line and then the chorus comes in as normal. The video is quite American? Well Guy is supposed to be a president or something and we all know that presidents are trying to take over the world!
5/5
I Could be an Angle
This song feels a bit country style. This has a quiet verse and loud chorus.
Tom really pounds on the cymbals at the chorus. It has breaks in it with a drum roll. Before the last chorus, there is a haunting bit.
3.5/5
When I Hear You Call my Name
Ok, I don't if it's Guy's voice or not but it surely isn't the way he sings normally. Though he sings normally in the chorus. The verse creeps me out a little but the chorus has the traditional 80's matchbox sound.
4/5
Migrate Migraine
Speaking of the traditional 80's Matchbox sound. The intro just hits you and Guy is using one of those things that make your voice sound like old time radio. The chorus is a one liner "I'm the law!" The song goes like this for the rest of it.
4/5
Puppy Dog Snails
This one is freakin' hilarious, it is haunting for the verse then the chorus is a parody of one of the Oompah Loumpa songs. The lyrics are a bit silly "What do we do with the Puppy Dog Tails? What do we do with a bucket of snails?"
4.5/5
The Dancing Girls
The intro is very arabic. The song is very pfft...It just isn't anything special.
The verse is very plain and the chorus is predictable.
2/5
The Fool
This is another song with the traditional 80's Matchbox sound. It's very fast and energetic. Very very good. Problem is, it’s a type of song you have to get into to like it, I didn’t like it at first.
5/5
I Rejection
This one starts off with some coughing. The verse is slow and quite a difference from pace. I don't know if it's Guy singing in the chorus because it sounds different from his normal voice. The song is about love. No complaints here
4/5
Drunk on the Blood
This one is acoustic. The drumming on this one is quite good and what the douche? A sax solo you say? That is quite a first. I don’t really like it, not my cup of tea, well, at least they are trying something different.
2/5
Mister Mental
This was the first single from the album. Can’t figure what the lyrics are about but there is a solo which is quite a first for 80’s Matchbox. The video is quite good, they have heads like those big bobble-heads and they’re heads end up popping in the end.
5/5
Frued’s Black Muck
Ok, the chorus is very shouty, what many different styles can Guy sing :lol: ? Quite, frankly, I don’t like this song, it just doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the album.
1.5/5
Temple Music
This is very indie or is it a power ballad? Either way, it is a tidy little track which I can dig. It’s actually quite emotional (not emo!) 80’s Matchbox should do more songs like this.
4.5/5
The Way of the Men of the Stuff
The verse reminds me of another song, though I can’t remember who. There is percussion in the start of the verse. I crapped myself when the chorus blasted out, the chorus has lots of shouting which I’m not a fan of. In the break, it sounds like a keyboard playing. Then it goes to that horrible chorus again.
3/5
Positive points
- Guy has a really good voice (but wait, check the negative bit)
- 80’s Matchbox explore things they’ve never did before, (keyboard, acoustic, solo etc.)
- Tom drums on the bass drums a lot giving it a tribal feel.
- Rise of the Eagles is such a brilliant song
Negative points
- Guy sometimes shouts a lot and it sounds horrible
- Some of the lyrics are very clich’
- The musicians talent isn’t really something to write home about though they can play rhythm
Recommended Tracks:
Rise of the Eagles
Migrate Migraine
Puppy Dog Snails
The Fool
Mister Mental
Verdict
It won’t fit everyone’s taste but they’ve done really well with this album. It does have it’s weak points but what album doesn’t? I’ll give it a solid:
4/5
