Call Me
Matchbook Romance
Voices
(Epitaph)
I really didn’t understand how nigh prog punk was when I first interviewed The Lawrence Arms.
The Chicago band’s third album, The Greatest Story Ever Told, shocked me with its intertwining themes and wordy titles, little did I know they were only touching on a world filled with Coheed & Cambria, AFI, My Chemical Romance, Boys Night Out, and their spawn.
No one can say for sure exactly when Matchbook Romance fully made the switch from NYC hardcore — Popeye would be happy they’re from Poughkeepsie — to emo to prog, but the songs on Voices brood with angst against our biggest enemy, “You!” Like My Chemical Romance with a stronger heart or Muse with a conspiracy complex, issues of “truth” obstruct our lives and only “we” — one track is even subtitled “We All Fall” — can make a difference. The Burton/Elfmanish touches in “Monsters” hint at genuine ambition, places maybe Matchbook aren’t ready to go. Otherwise it’s all very motivating and determined, but there’s just so much of it.
— Steve Forstneger
Click here to download “You Can Run, But We’ll Find You.”
Appearing: April 11 at House Of Blues.
