To discount up-and-coming bands that bang and clank their way to
the primitive sounds of today’s stripped-down rock movement as
nothing more than low-level opportunists could seem rather
cliché given the track record of rock n’ roll over the past
15 years. Grunge was able to knock out the hair-metal era of hard
rock in the late 80s after that scene spawned a slew of uninspiring
copycat bands. Recently, grunge began suffering the same fate.
With a lack of creativity being to blame in these cases coupled
with fact that indie-rock already is, well….. I did just
allude to it as being fundamental at times; one can only wonder how
long it will be before this genre begins tracking towards the same
destiny.
So, when I listen to the self-titled EP from New York City’s
Matches F.C., I immediately warm up to the fact that this trio
understands these sentiments as they attempt to create their own
hybrid sound of pure rock n’ roll.
First of all, the rhythm section — consisting of drummer Adam
Van Hyfte and bassist Dan Hewins — set the table for guitarist and
vocalist Mark Gutkowski to stamp his uniquely silky voice into a
hip, do-woppy arrangement for the four tracks that comprise this
EP. I think of T. Rex when I hear the drum/bass/guitar procession
and I think of Weezer when I hear the vocals. It’s an interesting
template to say the least.
Gutkowski’s vocals first struck me as being out of place the
first time I heard them. Fortunately, they quickly grew on me as
well-suited for what Matches F.C. are aiming to accomplish, much as
say the distinctive voice of Rick Sims identifies himself with his
Didjits band of yesterday and Gaza Strippers band of today. Matches
F.C., in their own words, are “reacting against the accepted norm
in underground music” while choosing “to push the boundaries of
indie-rock.”
I can buy that.
The first single on the
Matches F.C. release, “Hot Sugar,” embodies a swanky and
equally calculated approach to songwriting far from the
self-redeeming nature of many of the “dirty” rock bands on the
indie-scene. The vocal tandem of Gutkowski’s singing and Hewins’
backing vocals smoothly balance one another in ways that might make
you think that the two have been jamming together for years.
“She Makes Me” builds on the “Hot Sugar” formula with some
punchy guitar work that cascades into what can easily be envisioned
as a bouncy little sing-a-long number in a live setting. Heck, I’m
whistling it as I type this. “Bad Decisions” and “Come on Over”
don’t deviate from plan and round out what prove to be a sampler of
songs that will easily allow Matches F.C. to carve out their own
memorable sound.
With this release, Matches F.C. inspire coolness plain and
simple. And in rock n’ roll that’s a quality that will never be
admonished.
(For more information on the band, please visit their
Web site at
http://www.matchesfc.com)
