OKComputer1016
07/27/08, 09:58 AM
Matt and Isom - August Jesus Depression
Record Label: None
Release Date: 2008
Who?
A couple of emotional Bostonians who craft some pretty catchy experimental pop indie.
How is it?
It’s definitely worth hearing. Matt and Isom back up the ‘depression’ promise in their EP title with their knack for the mellow. This is some dark stuff, optimal for post-breakup syndrome or whatever early 20’s emotional phase has grabbed you, but it’s creative in its heart-on-sleeve expression. You can hear echoes of Radiohead in tracks like the opener “Our Time,” which seems to move through about 900 chords to reach its surprise resolution in the chorus; the computerized drums and atmospherics pop and swell like Portugal The Man’s It’s Complicated Being a Wizard.
As with many up-and-coming bands, the only real issue here is that the singer doesn’t seem to have figured out the way he wants to sing yet. His voice isn’t bad but it’s really not good either; he just needs to find his range and then things will be in top form. As it is, these songs are all good, but they could be great with better vocals (especially "Slowslowslow"). We’ll keep our fingers crossed for the full-length.
01. Our Time
02. Jesus in the Air
03. Slowslowslow
04. Transamerica
05. Math Equation
06. Desert
07. Poor Little Rich Girl
08. French Estate
09. NYC Once a Year
South, Paper Rival, Portugal the Man, Radiohead
myspace.com/mattandisom (http://www.myspace.com/mattandisom)
Record Label: None
Release Date: 2008
Who?
A couple of emotional Bostonians who craft some pretty catchy experimental pop indie.
How is it?
It’s definitely worth hearing. Matt and Isom back up the ‘depression’ promise in their EP title with their knack for the mellow. This is some dark stuff, optimal for post-breakup syndrome or whatever early 20’s emotional phase has grabbed you, but it’s creative in its heart-on-sleeve expression. You can hear echoes of Radiohead in tracks like the opener “Our Time,” which seems to move through about 900 chords to reach its surprise resolution in the chorus; the computerized drums and atmospherics pop and swell like Portugal The Man’s It’s Complicated Being a Wizard.
As with many up-and-coming bands, the only real issue here is that the singer doesn’t seem to have figured out the way he wants to sing yet. His voice isn’t bad but it’s really not good either; he just needs to find his range and then things will be in top form. As it is, these songs are all good, but they could be great with better vocals (especially "Slowslowslow"). We’ll keep our fingers crossed for the full-length.
01. Our Time
02. Jesus in the Air
03. Slowslowslow
04. Transamerica
05. Math Equation
06. Desert
07. Poor Little Rich Girl
08. French Estate
09. NYC Once a Year
South, Paper Rival, Portugal the Man, Radiohead
myspace.com/mattandisom (http://www.myspace.com/mattandisom)