To discount up-and-coming bands that bang and clank their way to
\nthe primitive sounds of today’s stripped-down rock movement as
\nnothing more than low-level opportunists could seem rather
\nclich\u00e9 given the track record of rock n’ roll over the past
\n15 years. Grunge was able to knock out the hair-metal era of hard
\nrock in the late 80s after that scene spawned a slew of uninspiring
\ncopycat bands. Recently, grunge began suffering the same fate.<\/p>\n
With a lack of creativity being to blame in these cases coupled
\nwith fact that indie-rock already is, well\u2026.. I did just
\nallude to it as being fundamental at times; one can only wonder how
\nlong it will be before this genre begins tracking towards the same
\ndestiny.<\/p>\n
So, when I listen to the self-titled EP from New York City’s
\nMatches F.C., I immediately warm up to the fact that this trio
\nunderstands these sentiments as they attempt to create their own
\nhybrid sound of pure rock n’ roll.<\/p>\n
First of all, the rhythm section — consisting of drummer Adam
\nVan Hyfte and bassist Dan Hewins — set the table for guitarist and
\nvocalist Mark Gutkowski to stamp his uniquely silky voice into a
\nhip, do-woppy arrangement for the four tracks that comprise this
\nEP. I think of T. Rex when I hear the drum\/bass\/guitar procession
\nand I think of Weezer when I hear the vocals. It’s an interesting
\ntemplate to say the least.<\/p>\n
Gutkowski’s vocals first struck me as being out of place the
\nfirst time I heard them. Fortunately, they quickly grew on me as
\nwell-suited for what Matches F.C. are aiming to accomplish, much as
\nsay the distinctive voice of Rick Sims identifies himself with his
\nDidjits band of yesterday and Gaza Strippers band of today. Matches
\nF.C., in their own words, are “reacting against the accepted norm
\nin underground music” while choosing “to push the boundaries of
\nindie-rock.”<\/p>\n
I can buy that.<\/p>\n
The first single on the
\nMatches F.C.<\/i> release, “Hot Sugar,” embodies a swanky and
\nequally calculated approach to songwriting far from the
\nself-redeeming nature of many of the “dirty” rock bands on the
\nindie-scene. The vocal tandem of Gutkowski’s singing and Hewins’
\nbacking vocals smoothly balance one another in ways that might make
\nyou think that the two have been jamming together for years.<\/p>\n
“She Makes Me” builds on the “Hot Sugar” formula with some
\npunchy guitar work that cascades into what can easily be envisioned
\nas a bouncy little sing-a-long number in a live setting. Heck, I’m
\nwhistling it as I type this. “Bad Decisions” and “Come on Over”
\ndon’t deviate from plan and round out what prove to be a sampler of
\nsongs that will easily allow Matches F.C. to carve out their own
\nmemorable sound.<\/p>\n
With this release, Matches F.C. inspire coolness plain and
\nsimple. And in rock n’ roll that’s a quality that will never be
\nadmonished.<\/p>\n