Customer Reviews

Stories & Alibis

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I was first introduced to Matchbook Romance a couple years ago at the Warped Tour. Being surronded by such bands as New Found Glory, Starting Line, and Something Corporate made it difficult for this band to really seperate themselves in my eyes. I picked up thier accoustic release under "Motion City Soundtrack" last year and it reminded me of The Starting Line's "Make Yourself At Home", to me, one of the best acoustic EP's written in the past five or so years.

To be honest, I did not expect much from "Stories and Alibis", but what I got was one of the best albums I have purchased in recent memory. For an album to be great to me, it has to provide three particular items. One is tone, an ability to captivate an audience to not only get pumped up by a guitar solo, but also pay attention to the words being sung. Two is diversity. Any band can play the same music over and over for 40 minutes, for it to be something special, they have to take time out to make some sound different. And lastly, staying power. The CD doesn't need to stay on the billboard top 100 or anything, but as the person who purchased the CD, if it stay in constant rotation for over 6 months, that CD has stayed around.

For me, "Stories and Alibis" fits those criteria. I purchased the CD back in January and have not stopped listening to it since then. Each song carries with emotion, musical talent and powerful lyrics to boot. The first single off the CD, "My Eyes Burn" is broken heart anthem for the youth of america. The hypnotic guitar lines along with the simple open of "My eyes burn from these tears" grips the audience to let themselves go with the song. The second track, "Playing For Keeps" is a remake of their accoustic release off of the "Motion City Soundtrack." They continue to use an enticing musical formula as to keep the audience pumped up with the rhytm of the song, yet saddened at the message it gives off. It speaks of a something everyone has gone through, being in a bad relationship but being able to get out, as evidenced by the line "your welcome has cancer, but my door is always open wide."

The real treat of the CD comes in the shape of track 4 "Promise." A song about young love, when all you need is that person by your side to get through anything the world throws your way. Lyricaly, to me this is the best Matchbook Romance has to offer. Musically, it is a ballad that doesn't put you to sleep or cause tears of sadness. It makes you want to stand up and face today and simply live. This one can be replayed over and over again...

Those are only three of eleven excellent tracks off this album (I do not count the introduction as a song since no lyrics are involved). Personally, I find track 6 "Tiger Lilly" a bit too slow for my liking, but none-the-less it delivers as a heart felt ballad for the young and confused. There are not too many other CD's that I thought were better then this one for the punk/emo genre. Anberlin's "Never Take Friendship Personal", Mae's "The Everglow" and Jimmy Eat World's "Futures" were the only other CD's I would put in the same category of Matchbook Romances' "Stories and Alibis." An absolute must have!

I admit it. I never listen to punk. I own 40+ rap albums, and no punk or anything else. So I have what you call a "closed-mind" when it comes to other genres of music. I was introduced to this band, and I found out you can listen to all the tracks online. So I let them play, and went to sleep. When I wake up, most of my bad judgement of music is gone. And what I heard was the song Tiger Lily, it just happened to be on this song. It was really good!! I couldn't believe it, that I was actually diggin something that wasn't rap. But, I really really liked it. Now, that I'm one of their newest fans, I am gonna buy the cd. I can't wait. I read their lyrics a lot now and try to sing along. The lyrics are so good and it hits home when you listen to it. You can relate to this guy's lyrics, i dont know his name but he is really good. I hope he breaks through to the mainstream music soon so everybody can be exposed to this great music.

I was totally blown away by this album. As a big fan of emo/screamo/hardcore music, I rate things pretty harshly. I was given this CD as a Christmas present from my friend, and I have to say, it's one of the best CDs I've ever heard. Their melodies are very catchy and it has great lyrics. The best songs on the CD are:

Playing For Keeps - A song about the hardships of relationships. I give it a 10/10.

Promise - A sweet song about asking a loved one not to go. I give this one a 10/10.

Tiger Lily - A very nice acoustic with lovely lyrics. I give it a 10/10.

My Eyes Burn - It is a great song, but it's been a little overplayed. It gets an 8/10 from me because I've heard it so much, but you'll give it a 10/10 once you hear it.

I give this two thumbs up, a 10/10, a ***** album. GO BUY IT NOW.

Ahhh.... where to begin? I think I'll start with the bad, since there's significantly less of it than the good. In fact, I really only have one complaint, and it's more a matter of personal taste, I guess. And it's the vocals. Mind you, they aren't bad, just I couldn't help feeling like the album could have rocked so much more with an excellent vocalist. Not to knock Andy's voice, he is talented, and I'm still giving the cd five stars. So with that out of the way, on to the good...

The album is solid on just about every point - the drumming, guitars, bass - all these guys are very talented, and the way they put it together is beautiful. The lyrics are incredible, especially in "Playing for Keeps" - which I consider the best song on here. Another thing I admired was the band's ability to sing out fast, hard, rockers (again, "Playing for Keeps") while also playing an acoustic song ("Tiger Lily") to perfection. The variety on the album is impressive, you won't be bored, and Matchbook Romance certainly doesn't fall into the "all the songs sound the same" stereotype that is prevalent these days.

I guess I'm expected to list off a bunch of bands that MR is similar to. I think a couple people have already made mention of Taking Back Sunday, and I would have to agree there. I also would draw a connection with Brand New, especially their first album ("Your Favorite Weapon"). But in reality, Matchbook Romance has it's own unique style and sound. One that is very aesthetically pleasing at that. If you're a fan of emo, or even pop-punk, you'll probably like this band, and I encourage you to give them a try.

Standout tracks on the album were: "Playing for Keeps", "Promise", "Shadows Like Statues", "My Eyes Burn", "If All Else Fails" and "The Greatest Fall".

Alot of people that give this cd a bad rating are only listening to what it "sounds like" not what the words are. Alot of the lyrics are easily applied to your average 20 or so year old. I love it, one of my favorite bands...definitely buy it, plus andy has the hottest voice EVER!!

ok.. ive heard quite a few rock bands... and i promise you.. this is a good one. The lyrics are meaningful and have something behind them.. they make sense, not just some poetic mindless babble some bands put together. And the music!! its awesome. definitely worth the buy. A few of the songs are slower... but they put a nice mix in of the hard core rock and the taking it down a notch to be able to actually sing. I highly recommend this cd.. and if you think it sucks.. oh well. If your still not sure. Go to www.matchbookromance.com and listen to the songs.. they have them all there to listen to
enjoy!

Don't take my review title the wrong way, MR totally kicks a**, but their music isn't anything that hasn't already been done before. Most of the songs' music and lyric's are pretty good, and the CD is enjoyable the whole way through...

Introduction...Just that, and intro to the CD. The first time around it mught be cool, but after awhile it gets old. Nothing special, and very skipable n/a

Your Stories, My Alibis...Pretty awesome, but the screaming isn't pitched loud enough or ofter enough for my tastes. Plus the "Cross Out My Eyes" line is unoriginal (Thursday) 8/10

Playing for Keeps...Very catchy chorus, this one I loved right away. A little bit different from the rest of the album (it sounds way closer to pop-punk than screamo), but still kick a** 8/10

Promise...ugh, underground radio managed to kill this one. I liked it alot, but now its just overplayed 7/10

Lovers & Liars...I don't know why, but this one just stands out more than the others for me. Its a really great song, with a cool chorus too. Def. one of my favorites 9/10

Tiger Lily's...I'm not a big fan of acoustic songs UNLESS the vocalist has a nice voice. In this case, it was a mixed bag 7/10

Shadows Like Statues...Forgettable, IMO. Still, I guess its alright 6/10

My Eyes Burn...Again, like track 3, a little out of place. It just has too much of a pop-punk, catchy chorus feel, and not enough of an emo/screamo influence i.e. its pop-radio friendly 7/10

She'll Never Understand...Is it just me, or does the guitar work on this song sound WAY too much like The Starting Line's "Given The Chance"?...Nvm, Just listen to a clip of each song, then decide 7/10

If All Else Fails...Slower than the others, expecially in the verses. I like it though, it gives me a warm feeling every time I hear it 8/10

Stay Tonight...Very singable chorus, and one of the more memorable songs on the album. It would have been better suited between tracks 6 and 10 though, right where the album starts to fall off 9/10

The Greatest Fall Of All Time...(HAHA YES, the reason why I bought this album in the first place. I LOVE this freakin song, expecially the part where he goes "I Miss you Ash, with each day your gone". It reminds me of something by Everclear, the way its so personal and self-pitying. The screaming here is totally good too, and its for this song alone that I HIGHLY ADVISE you to buy this album 1000000/10

Matchbook Romance started out as The Getaway. These four young men (Andrew Jordan- Vocals, Guitar; Ryan "Judas" DePaolo- Guitar; Ryan Kienle- Bass; and Aaron Stern- Drums) rocked so well that Epitaph Records had to pluck 'em right off the Internet. "The Internet really played and plays a major part of our success as a band," says bassist Ryan Kienle, weeks before the band lets the leash off West for Wishing, their debut EP. A taut, five-tune taste of an LP to come later this year, WFW is ripe with layered emotional-hardcore melodies and sharp, passionate, pop song craft. Further, it's the fruit of unmerciful self-promotion via the Internet.

Matchbook Romance is one of my favorite bands period. They just plain rock, with lyrics most people could relate to. Their lyrics tend to be of love and loss. One of their latest ballads, "Promise", starts with just the lead guitar picking out a simple rhythm, the drums pick up, and the lead singer, Andrew Jordan, croons out the first line, "What would you say, if I asked you not to go? To forget everyone, forget everything and start over with me." Then it picks up in pace to a fast, emotional song of love, bringing the song to a screaming ending with the lyrics "Never let me go" and "...Left remembering what its like, to have you here with me..." Their first LP "Stories & Alibis" is simply amazing; every song on the LP seethes love and hate, loss and recovery. Even the soft song on the album "Tiger Lily" rocks. In my opinion MBR is one of the lead Emo-hardcore bands out there, and if you have any interest in punk rock or Emo you should own this album.

Being a fan of bands such as Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, Story of the Year, etc. I figured I would buy this cd and check it out, only hearing one song, Promise. Believe me, that song alone is reason enough to buy this cd. After only hearing this cd only once through, they are in my top three favorite cds out right now. Being a big fan of punk/emo rock bands, I have to be honest that most of them have goods songs, but they also have a lot of filler songs too. It is hard to find a record such as this one that you can listen to all the way through because every song is awesome and you will cycle through every track as your favorite. Matchbook Romance has some of the most artistic muscial and lyrical talent that I have ever seen in a band of their kind. There are no filler songs on this cd, they will all hook you. You will not find yourself skipping any of these tracks. This cd finds itself up there with the other two great cds out right now, A.F.I.-sing the sorrow and Yellowcard-Ocean Ave. If you love those two cds, definitely pick this one up.

Epitaph sure scored big with this one. Not only was their e.p. good, but "Stories and Alibis" is amazing and literally blew my mind. Never have I like a cd so much on the first listen! From their smooth introduction to, my favorite song, "The Greatest Fall" the entire album is astonishing. The lyrics are so heartfelt and emotional that I feel as if I know exactly what the lead vocalist has gone through. Not only the lyrics but the vocals themselves are amazing. Finally an emo singer that can sing! Matchbook has put an end to the new trend of hardly praiseworthy pop punk bands that pretend to play music, but end up killing us softly with their tone-def vocals and no-talent instrumentals. Matchbook is refreshing, new, and what I've been waiting for in the music world. I literally could listen to this album on repeat for days, which is very rare considering most albums today have their ups and downs, but this one is solid all the way through. The band has definitely moved to the top of my favorite bands list, right above Backstreet Boys (just kidding). But really the album is phenomenal, and if you don't buy it you'll be missing out on one of the best bands to hit the emo scene. I guarantee you'll like it, if you don't, just tell me and I'll come over to your house and smack you over the head with a rubber boot (just kidding, again). Well, I've said enough. Just give 'em a try, they're gonna be big.