The Matches (Official Thread)

[SaltyEyes]

How do the matches not have their own thread, especially since I've noticed a few matches inspired usernames.

So hey, what do you think of the new bassist?

[Brit-Knee]

I'm seeing them perform next saturday...so I'll guess I'll see if he's good or not then haha

[thehereaway]

i hate to piss on your bonfire but... http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=198286

p.s. i love the matches, decomposer is brilliant

[pilot_light_out]

the matches fuck all your girlfriends!!!!!!!!!!

[wroteurname]

the matches fuck all your girlfriends!!!!!!!!!!
If I had a girlfriend I'd let Shawn Harris fuck us both.

[SaltyEyes]

oh wow, How did i miss that when i went looking for matches threads.

[caityconundrum]

the bald guy is attractive.

i saw them with valencia and bayside the other night. second time. they're good.

[Until The Bombs]

They strive to be more than the other bands from the scene, so I give them credit for that. But I don't believe they've been able to hit the mark with any of their albums yet.

[thespearkid]

Shawn Harris has to be one of my favorite musicians. A Band in Hope was an early contender for my album of the year and it's still probably in the top ten.

[SaltyEyes]

Caity, You should see the bald one (jon) with hair.
http://www.mtv.com/shared/media/images/artist/m/matches_the/az_official/281x211.jpg

Untilthebombs, While none of their albums have been revolutionary, theyve still all been amazing,

Spearkid, Which razia's shadow character is that?

So last night, I was at the photofinish records showcase for CMJ, and I saw this really light skinned black kid that looked almost exactly like shawn harris...except black.

[MADSTA]

Mmmm, Matches. Decomposer is one of my favourite albums. Shawn's such a brilliant front man.

[thespearkid]

Caity, You should see the bald one (jon) with hair.
http://www.mtv.com/shared/media/images/artist/m/matches_the/az_official/281x211.jpg

Untilthebombs, While none of their albums have been revolutionary, theyve still all been amazing,

Spearkid, Which razia's shadow character is that?

So last night, I was at the photofinish records showcase for CMJ, and I saw this really light skinned black kid that looked almost exactly like shawn harris...except black.
That's Barayas the Spider, Bemis' character.

[thehereaway]

any of you catch this? http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=632992

Dylan looks like he is settling in quite well

[pilot_light_out]

put on a fun show, fo sho

[caityconundrum]

Caity, You should see the bald one (jon) with hair.
http://www.mtv.com/shared/media/images/artist/m/matches_the/az_official/281x211.jpg

Untilthebombs, While none of their albums have been revolutionary, theyve still all been amazing,

Spearkid, Which razia's shadow character is that?

So last night, I was at the photofinish records showcase for CMJ, and I saw this really light skinned black kid that looked almost exactly like shawn harris...except black.
hehehehe they all look pretty silly. he had a sweet fedora on at the show. i kinda wanted it.

put on a fun show, fo sho
agreed. i've never gotten super into them but they were very good live both times i've seen them.

[SaltyEyes]

Some girl actually stole one of his fedora's at Warped tour. They chased the girl down and got it back, Bitch didn't realize it was his grandfathers.

[caityconundrum]

what a dumb bitch. i'm glad they got it back. i would never do that. i might ask if i got ballsy enough but that's just stupid.

[SaltyEyes]

Yeah, Shawn's really nice about that kinda thing, I actually have half of one of his Jackets....Why half? long storyyy..

[caityconundrum]

hahha how are you supposed to wear half a jacket? that's pretty funny.
at one point during their set he said something like "if you're eighteen you should really go out and do it." and no one knew what he meant so he continued with, "you know, it's not often guys in tight red pants with shiny guitars tell you to go out and vote. we're being respectable for once." it was pretty funny.

[boxingwithstars]

i love this band! a band in hope is one of my top five albums released this year, and decomposer is one of my favorite albums ever. plus, i'm in love with the track shawn does on razia's shadow... it's pretty sick.

i hope i get to see them open for bayside on the 5th! my friend has an extra ticket for me, but i don't know if i can go yet.

[caityconundrum]

you should. it's a great show.

[boxingwithstars]

i want to, it's just bad timing and i'm low on money. it's on a wednesday night, and then i have a paper and a project due the next morning :-(

[caityconundrum]

yeah i understand. it'd be totally worth it though. just do your school work early and make time for ittt. i'm going to see it a second time tonight because i love valencia. even though the tickets are going to be eighteen bucks at the damn door. ugh.

[SaltyEyes]

Ill be seeing them on the 13th in hartford, 14th in NYC, 15th in philly, and 16th in asbury.

But yeah, last time they plaed school of rock in jersey, shawn took off his jacket and threw it into the crowd, i caugh it, and so did another kid, shawn had us wrestle onstage during their set to see who would keep it, but i couldnt get the kid to let go, so we eventually cut it in half.

[RetardedInLove]

Listening to E Von Dahl for the first time in a while, I almost forgot how much I love this album!

[caityconundrum]

Ill be seeing them on the 13th in hartford, 14th in NYC, 15th in philly, and 16th in asbury.

But yeah, last time they plaed school of rock in jersey, shawn took off his jacket and threw it into the crowd, i caugh it, and so did another kid, shawn had us wrestle onstage during their set to see who would keep it, but i couldnt get the kid to let go, so we eventually cut it in half.
hahah wow, that's pretty great. i went to that tour again tonight and got there late (goddammit) but i came in while they were playing. seeing them twice in one week is making me want to check out their albums. and fedora guy is extremely attractive i've decided.

[SaltyEyes]

Haha,I love shawn.

Im so excited for my four dates.

[xtheaudition]

i like the matches, ive seen them twice and i bought thier newest record, i like it alot.

this video is funny

upmrWJBuZHk

[ashiex3]

i love the matches.
but ive never seen them live.
i got mad at my friend for seeing them without me..
haha

[TSLROCKS]

Haven't seen much talk of A Band In Hope anywhere since it was released. Finally went back to it today and I have to say it's fucking awesome. I really like every single one of their albums. Can't wait to see them with Bayside

[SaltyEyes]

The progression they've made since e. vohn is amazing. I love everyone of their songs.
e.von - scratched out
decomposer - salty eyes
ABiH - Clouds crash.

I'm a fan of their slower stuff, but my favorite is probably "my Moonshine" though its never been fully recorded.

Anyone else a big fan of their work as "the locals"?

[caityconundrum]

i really liked the "wake up" song but i don't have any of their albums. i just grabbed a band in hope this morning to check out. kinda stoked.

[4N6 science]

I haven't seen these guys for a long time...E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals is their best album.

[thehereaway]

The progression they've made since e. vohn is amazing. I love everyone of their songs.
e.von - scratched out
decomposer - salty eyes
ABiH - Clouds crash.

I'm a fan of their slower stuff, but my favorite is probably "my Moonshine" though its never been fully recorded.

Anyone else a big fan of their work as "the locals"?

Clouds Crash & Point Me Toward The Morning are probably my favourite songs off ABIH, wasn't PMTTM originally wrote back when they were The Locals?

[SaltyEyes]

Yeah, It was titled sing inside the lines originally, but like alot of other songs, they revamped it, and rereleased it.
they also did it with
Eryn Smith
Chain Me Free
what katie said
Yankee in a chip shop

[KyleMcr]

Saw them do an acoustic performance on saturday. It was great and I got to meet Shawn again.
They played:

Yankee in a Chip Shop
Salty Eyes
Papercut Skin
SCRATCHED OUT
Wake the Sun

[SaltyEyes]

I love scrathed out.

[provethatIexist]

halloween show in houston



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http://i38.tinypic.com/dqt2qr.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/116ma2c.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/331hchs.jpg

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http://i37.tinypic.com/5m9ttx.jpg

[SaltyEyes]

lucky.

[domotime2]

sorry if this was touched on before....but wasnt the matches the band that said in an interview basically, "we're upset and shocked that we didnt become as popular as we'd hope"

[Laur3l]

i'm sooo in love with the matches

[liar23]

A Girl I Know is soooo good

[Adam526]

sorry if this was touched on before....but wasnt the matches the band that said in an interview basically, "we're upset and shocked that we didnt become as popular as we'd hope"

Not exactly. It wasn't a madder of not being popular, it was a madder of getting their hopes very high with Decomposer. Their first album sold 40,000+ copies, and they toured that album for three years. When the chance to record Decomposer with 9 top name producers - they obviously thought it would do better sales wise, and then the same the happened with A Band In Hope - It sold about half as many copies as Decomposer.

[pipcafe]

at this poooint, I'm just trying to shamelssly plug myself, but here is a short documentary I did on the Matches if you guys would like to check it out. Let me know what you think, I'd really appreciate it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rvMNfN9dj8

[Jefferson Rank]

at this poooint, I'm just trying to shamelssly plug myself, but here is a short documentary I did on the Matches if you guys would like to check it out. Let me know what you think, I'd really appreciate it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rvMNfN9dj8

That sounds pretty interesting. I'll check it out when I get home.

I love the song "Sick Little Suicide." Just throwing that out there.

[The Personist]

Favorite band.

I'm doing a sequence of poems using The Matches as a basis; one poem for every song on every album. It had to happen; this band means too much to me.

[fenderrock89]

great band. great live. saw them at my school with only a 100 or so people there. they still put it all out there.

[The Personist]

great band. great live. saw them at my school with only a 100 or so people there. they still put it all out there.

When I saw them, during Sick Little Suicide, Shawn fucking scaled the amps and walls of the club after the guitar solo. It was insane.

[thehereaway]

Have they found a new label yet?

[oddwithoutend]

exercise and malnutrition keep currrrves tight, 'cause all that maaaatttters is what's outsiiiide

[boxingwithstars]

exercise and malnutrition keep currrrves tight, 'cause all that maaaatttters is what's outsiiiide

so says every magazine covvvveerr.

i love this band.

[The Pharmacist]

are done at the moment....:-(

[The Personist]

:-(

[boxingwithstars]

i'm so upset, even though i saw it coming for a while. it's not fair, they did not get the credit they deserved. such an amazing band.

[MADSTA]

I never got to see them live! They were on my top 5 bands to see live list. I'm going to cry.

[mycuban]

i'm fucking pissed, the shittiest bands, who are talentless pieces of shit, can survive in the shitty economy, yet bands who actually possess talent and use some creativity when writing/playing (I.E. the Matches) can't and go on a hiatus, this must be the end of the world.

[taylerx0]

:bluesad:

[anthonydarko]

They still stand as one of the best bands I've ever seen live. I'll miss those guys.:bluesad:

[boxingwithstars]

i still stand by my statement that A Band In Hope is seriously underrated. i love all of their albums for completely different reasons.

[tommy's ghost]

:-(

Dude, this fucking sucks.

[Whimsikill]

Not good man.

[muttley]

I'm gonna' miss these guys.

[thehereaway]

Gutted they are on hiatus, especially seeing as they probably had enough material for a new record.

[SanePsychotic]

:bluesad:

Not a huge fan, but I'm still bummed. Great band.

[The Personist]

I wrote a blog (link in usertitle) about the Matches and their going on hiatus, if anyone's interested.

[thespearkid]

Papercut Skin may be the best pop-punk song ever written.

[makeshiftmind]

after my arguement with Dave I have been listening to Decomposer quite a bit often, What Katie Said is such a good song. Love Papercut Skin too

[The Personist]

after my arguement with Dave I have been listening to Decomposer quite a bit often, What Katie Said is such a good song. Love Papercut Skin too

The MAtches >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Say Anything

[deanster321]

Decomposer is all kinds of outstanding.

[The Personist]

Decomposer is all kinds of outstanding.

This guy knows what's up.

[makeshiftmind]

The MAtches >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Say Anything
ha wishful thinking my friend, however, I will admit that The Matches have done a better job lyrically then Say Anything. I still think Say Anything on Is A Real Boy.. are catchier. That being said Decomposer>>>>>>>>In The Defense Of Genre and Baseball

[The Personist]

ha wishful thinking my friend, however, I will admit that The Matches have done a better job lyrically then Say Anything. I still think Say Anything on Is A Real Boy.. are catchier. That being said Decomposer>>>>>>>>In The Defense Of Genre and Baseball

Meh. I agree with everything except SA being catchier. Nowhere on IARB will you find a hook like on Papercut Skin.

[makeshiftmind]

Meh. I agree with everything except SA being catchier. Nowhere on IARB will you find a hook like on Papercut Skin.
I think songs like Alive With The Glory Of Love and Woe are would hold up pretty well in comparison to Papercut Skin in terms of musicality.

[deanster321]

Drive and You (Don't) Know Me are pretty catchy.

[The Personist]

Drive and You (Don't) Know Me are pretty catchy.

You Don't Know Me woudl have been a perfect single.

[thespearkid]

IARB is the only pop-punk album that is better than Decomposer, only because IARB is way more cohesive.

[makeshiftmind]

IARB is the only pop-punk album that is better than Decomposer, only because IARB is way more cohesive.
:jawdrop:did I just read this correctly...

[The Personist]

IARB is the only pop-punk album that is better than Decomposer, only because IARB is way more cohesive.

Wrong. IARB is less aesthetically varied from song to song, and Decomposer makes use of the same technique of collage Eliot uses in "The Waste Land." The seemingly disparate, separate, disjointed elements of the album come together to form a cogent, fluid, powerful album. There is less risk and less craft involved in IARB. It was undertaken more traditionallly. Decomposer took risks that paid off.

Musically and lyrically, THe MAtches >>>> Say Anything as well

[thespearkid]

Wrong. IARB is less aesthetically varied from song to song, and Decomposer makes use of the same technique of collage Eliot uses in "The Waste Land." The seemingly disparate, separate, disjointed elements of the album come together to form a cogent, fluid, powerful album. There is less risk and less craft involved in IARB. It was undertaken more traditionallly. Decomposer took risks that paid off.

Musically and lyrically, THe MAtches >>>> Say Anything as well

Did you really just compare The Wasteland to Decomposer? Decomposer isn't put together the way it is because of some conscious effort. They just couldn't afford to hire one producer for the entire album. To say there's less craft involved in IARB is ridiculous seeing as Bemis spent months in an attic writing and entire album himself (with the help of his producer) and recording nearly all the instruments on his own. In addition, IARB has a subtle story. Not to say a story automatically makes a more fluid album, but in this case, it's one of the many reasons IARB is more cohesive and more consistent. The alnbum is powerful, no doubt. It just lacks the consistency that IARB has.

[TachyonEvan]

The Matches fucking rule.

[TachyonEvan]

Did you really just compare The Wasteland to Decomposer? Decomposer isn't put together the way it is because of some conscious effort. They just couldn't afford to hire one producer for the entire album. To say there's less craft involved in IARB is ridiculous seeing as Bemis spent months in an attic writing and entire album himself (with the help of his producer) and recording nearly all the instruments on his own. In addition, IARB has a subtle story. Not to say a story automatically makes a more fluid album, but in this case, it's one of the many reasons IARB is more cohesive and more consistent. The alnbum is powerful, no doubt. It just lacks the consistency that IARB has.

You, sir, fucking rule.

[SwiftSilentDead]

I like the first record and Decomposer but A Band In Hope didn't do much for me.

[The Personist]

Did you really just compare The Wasteland to Decomposer? Decomposer isn't put together the way it is because of some conscious effort. They just couldn't afford to hire one producer for the entire album. To say there's less craft involved in IARB is ridiculous seeing as Bemis spent months in an attic writing and entire album himself (with the help of his producer) and recording nearly all the instruments on his own. In addition, IARB has a subtle story. Not to say a story automatically makes a more fluid album, but in this case, it's one of the many reasons IARB is more cohesive and more consistent. The alnbum is powerful, no doubt. It just lacks the consistency that IARB has.

A) Just because it was a money issue doesn't mean the construction of the album itself wasn't careful. Do you REALLY think it turned out as it did because they slapped that shit on there haphazardly? This point is silly. You're giving Max more credit than The Matches, and we both know that Max has one good album to his name versus three (IMO) or two (in general) to the Matches'. I am willing to bet there is plenty of craft involved in Decomposer, more so than there is in IARB. The fact that he scrapped the whole story aspect of it leads me to believe that Max didn't want to make it AS CRAFTED as it could have been.

B) You can't use an intended or aborted (lol artfully) story as proof of craft. If anything, it means he got lazy. You're using something that's not there as evidence of how it's better.

C) Decomposer is consistent and it is consistently more musically interesting than IARB.

[thespearkid]

A) Just because it was a money issue doesn't mean the construction of the album itself wasn't careful. Do you REALLY think it turned out as it did because they slapped that shit on there haphazardly? This point is silly. You're giving Max more credit than The Matches, and we both know that Max has one good album to his name versus three (IMO) or two (in general) to the Matches'. I am willing to bet there is plenty of craft involved in Decomposer, more so than there is in IARB. The fact that he scrapped the whole story aspect of it leads me to believe that Max didn't want to make it AS CRAFTED as it could have been.

B) You can't use an intended or aborted (lol artfully) story as proof of craft. If anything, it means he got lazy. You're using something that's not there as evidence of how it's better.

C) Decomposer is consistent and it is consistently more musically interesting than IARB.
A) I'm not giving Max credit for anything here except for IARB. The Matches did the best with what they had and came out of it with a damn good record. Max just had more money to work with and that helped him get a steady producer, a bigger budget, and more time to perfect his creation. Three great albums beats one great album for sure; The Matches are the better band. IARB is just the better album.

B) The story is still there, David. Max just made it more subtle by dropping the character names and spoken word sections. And you and I both know Max didn't drop it because he was lazy. It was because he was mentally unfit to make such a huge record at the time so he had to make it smaller. Even in it's diminished state, it's still, by design, more cohesive than Decomposer.

C) Decomposer is definitely musically superior to IARB. Decomposer just lacks cohesion. It's more of a collection of songs than an actual album. It wasn't until A Band In Hope that the Matches succeeded in crafting a record.

[The Personist]

A) I'm not giving Max credit for anything here except for IARB. The Matches did the best with what they had and came out of it with a damn good record. Max just had more money to work with and that helped him get a steady producer, a bigger budget, and more time to perfect his creation. Three great albums beats one great album for sure; The Matches are the better band. IARB is just the better album.

B) The story is still there, David. Max just made it more subtle by dropping the character names and spoken word sections. And you and I both know Max didn't drop it because he was lazy. It was because he was mentally unfit to make such a huge record at the time so he had to make it smaller. Even in it's diminished state, it's still, by design, more cohesive than Decomposer.

C) Decomposer is definitely musically superior to IARB. Decomposer just lacks cohesion. It's more of a collection of songs than an actual album. It wasn't until A Band In Hope that the Matches succeeded in crafting a record.

A and B) fair points both.

C) I disagree. It was cohesive. There is a definite reason for the way it was constructed the way it was. To say it was a collection of songs is to take out what I think makes it such a great album, which is the way it was put together.

[TheSkyline]

Just recently really got into these guys, because thespearkid would tell us kids that like Say Anything that The Matches were a better version of them, haha. But I really dig it, but at the moment I still like SA more, or at least I like IARB more. What Katie Said is my favorite by them right now, but I also love December is For Cynics.

[TachyonEvan]

IARB is the only pop-punk album that is better than Decomposer, only because IARB is way more cohesive.

:appl:

[The Personist]

:appl:

/post needed to seek forgiveness

By the way, Dion, you're still wrong.

[TachyonEvan]

/post needed to seek forgiveness

By the way, Dion, you're still wrong.

WHAT.

/Say Anything fanboy.

[The Personist]

WHAT.

/Say Anything fanboy.

Decomposer >>> IARB

[TachyonEvan]

Decomposer >>> IARB

Haven't heard it, but considering ...IARB is one of my favorite albums of all time, I doubt it.

[The Personist]

If you haven't heard Decomposer, stop trying to talk about it. It's fucking stupid of you.

[Doolb-Oidua]

Now that my blink adventure is over, I'm so stoked for The Filmore on the 23rd.

[The Personist]

THe Matches >>>>>>> Blink

[Doolb-Oidua]

I agree actually, but I like blink way more for nostalgic reasons.

[Stage Blood]

"Little Maggots" is probably the greatest fucking song I've ever heard in my life.

[deFobbed14yrs]

im so happy they're putting out a record. so fucking happy it makes me wanna cry

[The Personist]

"Little Maggots" is probably the greatest fucking song I've ever heard in my life.

Wait'll you get to Barber's Unhappiness.

[xJesusFreakx]

I'm only passingly familiar with the Matches (as I still have to find my dang cable to add new songs to my iPod so I can listen at work), but my very limited knowledge is enough to tell me that nothing Max has or will do could possibly be considered better.

[The Personist]

I'm only passingly familiar with the Matches (as I still have to find my dang cable to add new songs to my iPod so I can listen at work), but my very limited knowledge is enough to tell me that nothing Max has or will do could possibly be considered better.

Exactly. Listen to Decomposer all the way through.

[Stage Blood]

1 song away from Barber's Unhappiness.

[The Personist]

Oh my God. Your mind is about to be blown...

through your nose.

[Chromefox]

The Barber's Unhappiness is a pop punk triumph.

[The Personist]

Dion and I don't think that it's pop-punk. We had this discussion earlier today. It's more art-punk/post-pop (probably not even a genre, but I like it) than it is pop-punk. It eschews too much of the "traditional" pop-punk elements to fit the genre.

[Stage Blood]

I like at 3:09 when it gets better.

[Stage Blood]

I really don't consider this album pop-punk. Like I told David, I'd go with "art-punk" as a much better classification.

[The Personist]

The song is masterful from start to finish.

[Chromefox]

Nah, it's pop punk. Songs like Didi My Doe and What Katie Said are purely pop punk. It might be really good pop punk, but it's pop punk.

I think the both of you have clouded judgment because you love it so much.

[The Personist]

Nah, it's pop punk. Songs like Didi My Doe and What Katie Said are purely pop punk. It might be really good pop punk, but it's pop punk.

I think the both of you have clouded judgment because you love it so much.

Didi My Doe sounds more like Brit rock than pop-punk. What Katie Said is perhaps the closest to pop-punk the album comes.

[Stage Blood]

Nah, it's pop punk. Songs like Didi My Doe and What Katie Said are purely pop punk. It might be really good pop punk, but it's pop punk.

I think the both of you have clouded judgment because you love it so much.

It's too crazy to be pop-punk.

[Chromefox]

It's pop punk. David, you're just blinded by love, and Evan, you must be blinded by David's cock. :-d

Gatsbys American Dream is still pop punk, and similarly they show a complexity and variance beyond the remainder of the genre. Still pop punk though.

[xJesusFreakx]

Exactly. Listen to Decomposer all the way through.

I will start the first song on the album immediately after hitting "Submit Reply."

[Stage Blood]

It's pop punk. David, you're just blinded by love, and Evan, you must be blinded by David's cock. :-d

Gatsbys American Dream is still pop punk, and similarly they show a complexity and variance beyond the remainder of the genre. Still pop punk though.

Gatsby's American Dream counts as pop punk?

[muttley]

Oh my God. Your mind is about to be blown...

through your nose.

http://assets.knowyourmeme.com/i/681/original/what-you-did-there-i-see-it.thumbnail.jpg

[Stage Blood]

Stop waving back, I'm drowning.

[The Personist]

It's pop punk. David, you're just blinded by love, and Evan, you must be blinded by David's cock. :-d

Gatsbys American Dream is still pop punk, and similarly they show a complexity and variance beyond the remainder of the genre. Still pop punk though.

Gatsbys American Dream, based on the two albums with which I'm most familiar (self-titled and Volcano) do bring complexity and variation to the genre; however, Nic Newsham's vocals, the general fundamental song structure, and the type of writing more fits a pop-punk mold than this does. GAD is not a samey band, but they are MORE samey than The Matches, and they would fit better in a pop-punk niche than The Matches would.

Also, for the record, The Matches > GAD. So much.

[Chromefox]

Hahahaha, every song is still pop punk, even if they borrow elements from outside of the genre and even if they vary each song tremendously within the constraints of pop punk.

David, you WANT them to be more than pop punk because you've renounced the genre, and you still love them and can't call them legit if they're still pop punk. But they are. Really awesome pop punk. Still pop punk though.

[Stage Blood]

Gatsbys American Dream, based on the two albums with which I'm most familiar (self-titled and Volcano) do bring complexity and variation to the genre; however, Nic Newsham's vocals, the general fundamental song structure, and the type of writing more fits a pop-punk mold than this does. GAD is not a samey band, but they are MORE samey than The Matches, and they would fit better in a pop-punk niche than The Matches would.

Also, for the record, The Matches > GAD. So much.

I don't know what "samey" means.

But I agree that GAD are "more" pop-punk, but I've never considered them really pop-punk.

[Stage Blood]

Hahahaha, every song is still pop punk, even if they borrow elements from outside of the genre and even if they vary each song tremendously within the constraints of pop punk.

David, you WANT them to be more than pop punk because you've renounced the genre, and you still love them and can't call them legit if they're still pop punk. But they are. Really awesome pop punk. Still pop punk though.

I'm really not sure I agree with this, Meg.

[Chromefox]

I'm really not sure I agree with this, Meg. This post was going to be a low blow to both of you, but I edited myself.

I just want you to know the feeling was there.

[Stage Blood]

This post was going to be a low blow to both of you, but I edited myself.

I just want you to know the feeling was there.

You've made me want to listen to GAD so badly.

[Chromefox]

You've made me want to listen to GAD so badly. I can zip Volcano and Ribbons and Sugar if you want. Would probably be faster to find them yourself though.

[The Personist]

Hahahaha, every song is still pop punk, even if they borrow elements from outside of the genre and even if they vary each song tremendously within the constraints of pop punk.

David, you WANT them to be more than pop punk because you've renounced the genre, and you still love them and can't call them legit if they're still pop punk. But they are. Really awesome pop punk. Still pop punk though.

A) I like Gatsbys and consider them pop-punk.
B) If what you have said is true, then Kid A is pop and your arguments in other threads are null and void, because it's doing what you're saying The Matches have here done.
C) I'm allowed to change my mind concerning certain opinions. I considered The Matches pop-punk until VERY recently (today being the time I had my mind changed) when I had a conversation with Dion, my fellow Matches junkie, about it. If I were really so desperate for cred, I'd probably eschew my love for the Matches in the first place.

It kinda hurts that you think I'm so shallow about my tastes as to try to revise the way I classify what I like so I can have more "cred."

[Stage Blood]

I can zip Volcano and Ribbons and Sugar if you want. Would probably be faster to find them yourself though.

I don't have Ribbons and Sugar- Volcano is the only album of theirs that I do have. I'll go find it.

[Stage Blood]

This is so not pop-punk:
l6TBSe9s4QE

[The Personist]

Self-titled is GAD's best, in my opinion...but Volcano is great.

EDIT: Nic Newsham has a very "pop-punk" voice.

[xJesusFreakx]

I just finished "Little Maggots," and apparently the Matches steals their lyrics from Dave's Twitter/Facebook updates.

Oh, and while people are talking about GAD, what's the best CD to download if I want to get into them?

[The Personist]

I just finished "Little Maggots," and apparently the Matches steals their lyrics from Dave's Twitter/Facebook updates.

Oh, and while people are talking about GAD, what's the best CD to download if I want to get into them?

Volcano or self-titled.

And yes, they do...I gave Shawn all my tweets 'n' statuses because he liked them so much.

[Stage Blood]

I just finished "Little Maggots," and apparently the Matches steals their lyrics from Dave's Twitter/Facebook updates.

Oh, and while people are talking about GAD, what's the best CD to download if I want to get into them?

I FUCKING LOVE "LITTLE MAGGOTS."

Volcano, because I fucking love it.

[thespearkid]

If you want to get technical about it, very few bands who are considered pop-punk today are actually pop-punk, but are pop-rock. Since the Matches play with the standard rock instrumentation most of the time, I would say they're art-punk. However, post-pop (which wasn't a genre until David and I decided it was this morning) more accurately describes them.

[pennie]

I'm just a dog-eared page you turn back to.
Where's the place for me
When we're both in love with you?

Have not listened to these in an awful long time. Dave rec me an album

[Stage Blood]

Self-titled is GAD's best, in my opinion...but Volcano is great.

EDIT: Nic Newsham has a very "pop-punk" voice.

I don't know, I think that he's a little too... theatrical? Same with Ben Liebsch.

[The Personist]

I'm just a dog-eared page you turn back to.
Where's the place for me
When we're both in love with you?

Have not listened to these in an awful long time. Dave rec me an album

Decomposer Decomposer Decomposer Decomposer

[Chromefox]

It kinda hurts that you think I'm so shallow about my tastes as to try to revise the way I classify what I like so I can have more "cred." That's not what I was implying specifically. What I meant was that now that you shit upon pop punk, I think you need to justify listening to the Matches to yourself.

And comparing Decomposer to Kid A is so foolish I refuse to entertain this discussion any further.

[Stage Blood]

If you want to get technical about it, very few bands who are considered pop-punk today are actually pop-punk, but are pop-rock. Since the Matches play with the standard rock instrumentation most of the time, I would say they're art-punk. However, post-pop (which wasn't a genre until David and I decided it was this morning) more accurately describes them.

David neglected to actually explain "post-pop" to me. Do you care to?

I still like art-punk as a classification. That's how it feels to me.

[The Personist]

I don't know, I think that he's a little too... theatrical? Same with Ben Liebsch.

Liebsch is definitely pop-punk, though. If anything, Shawn's too "theatrical" for pop-punk.

[pennie]

Decomposer Decomposer Decomposer Decomposer
RIYL?

[Stage Blood]

That's not what I was implying specifically. What I meant was that now that you shit upon pop punk, I think you need to justify listening to the Matches to yourself.

And comparing Decomposer to Kid A is so foolish I refuse to entertain this discussion any further.

He just brought up Kid A to make it his favorite album vs. your favorite album.

[The Personist]

That's not what I was implying specifically. What I meant was that now that you shit upon pop punk, I think you need to justify listening to the Matches to yourself.

And comparing Decomposer to Kid A is so foolish I refuse to entertain this discussion any further.

Comparing argument to argument is not foolish. If what you said here is true, then I can apply the same metric to your discussion with Todd and therefore call Kid A pop.

it was an analogy, not a direct comparison.

[Stage Blood]

RIYL?

Just check it out. I promise you'll enjoy it.
Liebsch is definitely pop-punk, though. If anything, Shawn's too "theatrical" for pop-punk.

I know Liebsch is pop-punk, but do you know what I mean? I feel YMAEWK push the envelope a bit for the genre, but not nearly as much as GAD or The Matches.

I consider YMAEWK pop-punk. I do not consider either The Matches or GAD pop-punk.

[thespearkid]

David neglected to actually explain "post-pop" to me. Do you care to?

I still like art-punk as a classification. That's how it feels to me.
Well, let me rescind what I said; The Matches are art-punk. To me, post-pop is music that rejects standard song structure, pop melodies, and standard chord structures. The perfect example is Dirty Projectors.

[Chromefox]

You're in denial, and I am not going to continue this argument so you can have the satisfaction of shitting upon me.

Leaving now.

[thespearkid]

Haha THE OFFICIAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE MATCHES:

Art-punk with elements of post-pop.

[The Personist]

RIYL?

Good music. I don't even know.

[Stage Blood]

Well, let me rescind what I said; The Matches are art-punk. To me, post-pop is music that rejects standard song structure, pop melodies, and standard chord structures. The perfect example is Dirty Projectors.

I fully agree that The Matches are art-punk, at least to the point that I am in their discography.

I haven't checked out the Dirty Projectors yet, but I almost did last night. RIYL, by any chance?

[Stage Blood]

Good music. I don't even know.
Essentially what I said.
Haha THE OFFICIAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE MATCHES:

Art-punk with elements of post-pop.

That makes sense, I guess.

[thespearkid]

I fully agree that The Matches are art-punk, at least to the point that I am in their discography.

I haven't checked out the Dirty Projectors yet, but I almost did last night. RIYL, by any chance?
I've never heard a band quite like Dirty Projectors.

Think Animal Collective + Beyonce.

[pennie]

Just check it out. I promise you'll enjoy it.
.

Good music. I don't even know.
Ok I'll go check it out. I hope its not too much like e von dahl that album seems a little "silly" to me.

[Stage Blood]

I've never heard a band quite like Dirty Projectors.

Think Animal Collective + Beyonce.

...that sounds insane. I'll have to download Bitte Orca tonight.

[thespearkid]

...that sounds insane. I'll have to download Bitte Orca tonight.
AOTY

[Stage Blood]

Ok I'll go check it out. I hope its not too much like e von dahl that album seems a little "silly" to me.

It's so ridiculously different.

[gonfreaks]

I just threw on Decomposer for the first time in well over a year. Such a fucking fantastic album.

[Stage Blood]

AOTY

Wow. I'll be sure to let you know what I think of it.

[pennie]

It's so ridiculously different.
Awesome.Will inform you of my findings.

[Stage Blood]

Awesome.Will inform you of my findings.

Yay.

[The Personist]

You're in denial, and I am not going to continue this argument so you can have the satisfaction of shitting upon me.

Leaving now.

I'm not shitting on you, I"m just calling you a hypocrite for making the same argument someone else made against you. You misconstrued the last point as a direct comparison between two completely incomparable albums (which it wasn't, since I was comparing arguments and not albums), and you refuse to acknowledge that I'm capable of any sort of reasonable reclassification of what I like because I am a huge fanboy and z0mg the Libertines and the Matches et cetera. You're writing off my opinions because you disagree instead of engaging discussion. I'm somewhat offended.

[The Personist]

Awesome.Will inform you of my findings.

Waiting for that information...

[Stage Blood]

Yeah, let's talk about Decomposer.

[pennie]

Waiting for that information...
On my first listen now. Oh boy

[The Personist]

Decomposer > The Libertines

/you didn't expect that

[pennie]

Decomposer > The Libertines

/you didn't expect that
Did not see that coming.

[Stage Blood]

Decomposer > The Libertines

/you didn't expect that

Of course.

[Stage Blood]

I may listen to this album all night long.

[The Personist]

I may listen to this album all night long.

I listened like twice. I used to just listen nonstop, though.

[Stage Blood]

I listened like twice. I used to just listen nonstop, though.

OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!

x

[The Personist]

OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!

x

Oh my God, I love that song.

Also, Matches lyrics = great.

[TachyonEvan]

Guess who's back?

[SwiftSilentDead]

Love the first two albums but I wasn't that big on A Band In Hope.

[Protested Hero]

I really want some new music. Decomposer and E Von Dahl are two of my favorite albums.

[pennie]

Guess who's back?
They found Jeff Magnum ?

[TachyonEvan]

They found Jeff Magnum ?

Is he missing?

[tombo85]

Anyone know what time the new album will be released online?

[mycuban]

not soon enough!!!

[fatabbot1]

new album is available now. here is the link http://thematchesband.bandcamp.com (http://thematchesband.bandcamp.com/)

[GunTheVillain]

First heard of em on some random mix CD. <3

[The Personist]

:-( I miss them. The new songs are great.

[color_coded]

new album is available now. here is the link http://thematchesband.bandcamp.com (http://thematchesband.bandcamp.com/)
Sweet.

[thehereaway]

all the tracks sound great

[The Personist]

Wicked Walk is amazing.

[deanster321]

Love the first two albums but I wasn't that big on A Band In Hope.
Pretty much the same here, so far at least.

[MADSTA]

Guess who's back?
Back again
Shady's back
Tell a friend

[deFobbed14yrs]

im liking the new album


shady's back shady's back shady's back danumda

[Stage Blood]

Back again
Shady's back
Tell a friend

That's what I was thinking.

[caveBEAR]

Anyone actually give more than $50? If I had the disposable income, I would have. I have worn down all of their albums, B-Sides, etc., they definitely earned at least $50 from me...but I could only afford $10.

[MADSTA]

I wish I could afford to give them $50, they really deserve it. But at this point I really have to squeeze every penny I own.

[boxingwithstars]

trust me, i would have given them $100 if i could have. i gave them the most i could afford to... which was $15, and that's quite a bit considering how little i have in my bank account at the moment, haha. i've purchased all their previous albums though, and i felt it was most important to purchase this one.

[Mistle]

New album is great, pretty chilled back.

Wicked Walk is awesome =D

[Doolb-Oidua]

I gave 50, but I feel like a douchebag asking their manager for shit. Whatever, hah. I probably shouldn't have based on how much disposable income I've actually got right now.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Sunday sunday sundayyyyyyy.:bounce:
I haven't seen this band in a year and a half. So excited.

[tommy's ghost]

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1271462

:suave:

[WhiteLies.]

I went to the farewell show last night at the Troubadour. It was an amazing set, but so bittersweet. I'll attempt a setlist...it'll probably be mostly out of order and partially incomplete.
The Jack Slap Cheer
What Katie Said
Dog-Eared Page
Yankee in a Chip Shop
Clouds Crash
Darkness Rising
Salty Eyes
Papercut Skin
Clumsy Heart
Didi
Wake The sun
Chain Me Free
Audio Blood
Little Maggots
Sunburn Vs. the Rhinovirus
Wicked WalkEncore:
Scratched Out
Sick Little SuicideThe crowd was still cheering for Eryn Smith after they went offstage for the final time, so Shawn grabbed an acoustic guitar and told the crowd if they were quiet - since the mics were off - he'd play the chorus. It got quiet, but as soon as he started singing everyone in the room joined in. It was one of those moments you don't forget.

[WhiteLies.]

Anyone actually give more than $50? If I had the disposable income, I would have. I have worn down all of their albums, B-Sides, etc., they definitely earned at least $50 from me...but I could only afford $10.
Shawn mentioned last night that someone donated $100, I think.

[Domenic182]

I went to the farewell show last night at the Troubadour. It was an amazing set, but so bittersweet. I'll attempt a setlist...it'll probably be mostly out of order and partially incomplete.
The Jack Slap Cheer
What Katie Said
Dog-Eared Page
Yankee in a Chip Shop
Clouds Crash
Darkness Rising
Salty Eyes
Papercut Skin
Clumsy Heart
Didi
Wake The sun
Chain Me Free
Audio Blood
Little MaggotsEncore:
Sunburn Vs. the Rhinovirus
Sick Little SuicideThe crowd was still cheering for Eryn Smith after they went offstage for the final time, so Shawn grabbed an acoustic guitar and told the crowd if they were quiet - since the mics were off - he'd play the chorus. It got quiet, but as soon as he started singing everyone in the room joined in. It was one of those moments you don't forget.
I didn't see you there.

[Domenic182]

I went to the farewell show last night at the Troubadour. It was an amazing set, but so bittersweet. I'll attempt a setlist...it'll probably be mostly out of order and partially incomplete.
The Jack Slap Cheer
What Katie Said
Dog-Eared Page
Yankee in a Chip Shop
Clouds Crash
Darkness Rising
Salty Eyes
Papercut Skin
Clumsy Heart
Didi
Wake The sun
Chain Me Free
Audio Blood
Little MaggotsEncore:
Sunburn Vs. the Rhinovirus
Sick Little SuicideThe crowd was still cheering for Eryn Smith after they went offstage for the final time, so Shawn grabbed an acoustic guitar and told the crowd if they were quiet - since the mics were off - he'd play the chorus. It got quiet, but as soon as he started singing everyone in the room joined in. It was one of those moments you don't forget.
Also that set list is wrong girl.
The encore was Scratched Out and Sick Little Suicide, and Rhinovirus was in the main setlist. Also, they played Wicked Walk.
Other than that it looks mostly good.

[caveBEAR]

Does anyone know where all those tracks came from on the new album? Whenever b-side collections come out I like to put the songs with the albums/eras they were recorded with, but without the physical release, I don't know when the songs were recorded. Anyone know?

[thehereaway]

Does anyone know where all those tracks came from on the new album? Whenever b-side collections come out I like to put the songs with the albums/eras they were recorded with, but without the physical release, I don't know when the songs were recorded. Anyone know?

If you go back to the website where you can buy the album, then click lyrics, it gives you a little information about the track such as where and when it was recorded. For example Nothing's Going On was 'Recorded June-October 2007 at Talking House, San Francisco'. So post-Decomposer, pre-A Band In Hope. Hope that helps.

You can tell that song was recorded with Justin just by listening to it though.

[WhiteLies.]

I didn't see you there.
I wasn't in the crowd until the Matches came on, at which point I was near the front and in between Shawn and Jon. And I'm really small so I'm easy to overlook. Whereabouts were you?

Also that set list is wrong girl.
The encore was Scratched Out and Sick Little Suicide, and Rhinovirus was in the main setlist. Also, they played Wicked Walk.
Other than that it looks mostly good.
I'll fix it! I couldn't take setlist notes so I was going off what I could remember.

[Domenic182]

I wasn't in the crowd until the Matches came on, at which point I was near the front and in between Shawn and Jon. And I'm really small so I'm easy to overlook. Whereabouts were you?. Haha I got there as they were setting up as well. I was between Shawn and Jon but probably about 4-5 from the front, it was pretty dense up there. When Shawn jumped on the crowd i was to the left.

[WhiteLies.]

Haha I got there as they were setting up as well. I was between Shawn and Jon but probably about 4-5 from the front, it was pretty dense up there. When Shawn jumped on the crowd i was to the left.
What the hell, it sounds like you were standing behind me! Haha

[Domenic182]

What the hell, it sounds like you were standing behind me! Haha
Haha, I might have been, there were small girls all around me and some annoying kid with long hair who kept whipping his sweat all over the place, so I spat in my hand and wiped it on his shirt lol

[WhiteLies.]

Haha, I might have been, there were small girls all around me and some annoying kid with long hair who kept whipping his sweat all over the place, so I spat in my hand and wiped it on his shirt lol
Hahaha, nice. I had a similar issue with some broski in a tanktop. He looked like the 'I beat up girls' type so I just elbowed him.

[Domenic182]

Hahaha, nice. I had a similar issue with some broski in a tanktop. He looked like the 'I beat up girls' type so I just elbowed him.
Was that the dude with the yellow headband
I wanted to punch that headband guy

[WhiteLies.]

Was that the dude with the yellow headband
I wanted to punch that headband guy
I don't know. possibly. The tank top was black and he was super tall, that's all I really remember. Come to think of it, there were a lot of really annoying people there. I don't know where people get their idea of show etiquette these days. There must be a book out called "101 ways to piss off normal people at a show".

[madhatter]

matches reunion? bring back the matches. i think a couple days should be long enough for their break up. who's with me

[11:11]

Favorite band.

I'm doing a sequence of poems using The Matches as a basis; one poem for every song on every album. It had to happen; this band means too much to me.
Woah woah woah.

I thought your favorite band was the Libertines? Is this hypocrisy?!

[GuitarR0cker1]

In honor of The Matches I will listen to them for the first time in a year.

[TachyonEvan]

The Matches are the best. :-d

[TangledUp]

I miss them already.

I remember the first time I saw them, co-headlining with Plain White T's (back when PWTs were good), and Shawn and Jon came out in the parking lot with two acoustic guitars and we all formed a circle around them and they played Scratched Out for us. It was pretty epic.

[TachyonEvan]

Is it wrong to start a Matches cover band already?

[TachyonEvan]

Necessary bump.

[werealldudes19]

these guys made such great songs.

[TachyonEvan]

These guys inspire me on a daily basis.

[oddwithoutend]

Listening to The Matches right now. Oh yeah, I'm that awesome.

[TheSkyline]

Can they please just get back together?

[oddwithoutend]

exercise and malnutrition keeps curves tight, 'cause all that matters is what's outside!!

[TheSkyline]

Is it wrong to start a Matches cover band already?

No. Let's start an online Matches cover band. haha

[Auals]

These guys inspire me on a daily basis.

This. What Katie Said makes me wnat to give up music.

[boxingwithstars]

it's that time of the year again... December Is For Cynics on repeat.

[thehereaway]

So excited for this

AK_nw95Y4To

cD3CQZInLPA

Ag3bwDNAWHQ

[Fentoooozler]

How do these guys have such few plays on last.fm?!?!

[ktkicksit]

Did the Matches break up? I heard that somewhere...I hope not, because "Salty Eyes" is my jam...

[thehereaway]

Did the Matches break up? I heard that somewhere...I hope not, because "Salty Eyes" is my jam...

Yeah, unfortunately, they're on hiatus. The good news is they released a rarities and demos album soon after the hiatus; and that Shawn and Jon both have new projects (which is great because it would be a real shame if they stopped making music altogether). Shawn's project, Maniac, looks like it could potentially be really good.

[ktkicksit]

Yeah, unfortunately, they're on hiatus. The good news is they released a rarities and demos album soon after the hiatus; and that Shawn and Jon both have new projects (which is great because it would be a real shame if they stopped making music altogether). Shawn's project, Maniac, looks like it could potentially be really good.

Ah that sucks! At least they're still making music, that's what's important.

[Buscemi Knows Best]

i just started listening to all 4 of their albums on repeat this week, it's been too long since i've listened to them. holy hell do i want them to come back.

[Illinoise]

I miss this band so much. :-(

[drzafs]

I want this band back so hard...

[muttley]

I ain't got the money to pay for you anyway.

[McIrish]

So excited for this

AK_nw95Y4To

cD3CQZInLPA

Ag3bwDNAWHQ

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

[boxingwithstars]

god dammit, i miss this band. Maniac's EP is alright, but it's just not The Matches and that fact alone makes me sad every time i try to listen to it :-(

[The Pharmacist]

got the vinyl in the mail, still desperately miss the matches though

also i noticed a gold ring on shawn's left hand, is he married?

[The Indigo]

God damn, Decomposer makes more sense to me now than when I first heard it in high school. I feel like so much of the album deals with exactly what I'm going through right now (as Shawn Harris put it, realizing you're not a sad boy anymore, but a sad man).

[introduction]

Just listened to Decomposer again for the first time in God knows how long. Unbelievable stuff. Why did The Matches have to die?

[deFobbed14yrs]

I'll I'll I'll blow my brains outtttttttt, through my noseeee

[wall e]

I just found a picture of me and Shawn Harris, made my day

[2LW]

I just found a picture of me and Shawn Harris, made my day
Can you send it and I'll edit my face in it, so I can have a picture of me and Shawn too?

I fucking miss this band.

[The Personist]

Needs and Wants is a jam. I miss the Matches more than anything.

[theargylepilot]

Favorite band of all time. Cried like a bitch when they posted the break up news.

[WeWereGiants]

it's that time of the year again... December Is For Cynics on repeat.

Same here, such an amazing song, from one of the best bands of all time.

[werealldudes19]

I miss this band so much.

[The Personist]

Who DOESN'T miss the matches?

[Turi]

I hadn't heard of these guys 'til now, just checkin' em out.

Diggin' it.. it's like.. kinda 80's.. but it's cool..

[2LW]

Ugg, best band that ever happened, for me at least.

[ramomcferno]

Needs and Wants is a jam. I miss the Matches more than anything.

I agree with this SO much!

[jdr277]

Although Maniac and Bird By Bird have yet to prove they are capable of making better music than when they were the matches, I'm still looking forward to hear their LPs hopefully dropping this year... Anyone with me?

[RiCCioLi]

I was very impressed with Maniacs single "Die Rad", but very let down by the rest of that EP. Very very let down. All the other songs were very boring. Still, Shawn Harris is amazing!

[muttley]

I'm sure I've said it before, but E Von Dahl gets a reasonable position on my "top albums of all time" list.

[2LW]

Decomposer's my favorite album of all time.

[RockTheWalls]

Played Papercut Skin on RTW tonight. Love this band so much.

[jpfbaccount]

are they still a band? i haven't seen or heard from them since '08

[ramomcferno]

are they still a band? i haven't seen or heard from them since '08

They broke up two years ago. I really miss them. I was actually just listening to them earlier.

[2LW]

Is it too early for a top five matches song list?

1. everything from Decomposer, E. Von, ABIH and album 4.
2. December is for Cynics
3.
4.
5.

That's all I got.