E. Von Dahl Killed The Locals - Matches (The)

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Very easy to listen through
Disadvantages:	-  -

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Having only heard 2 songs from this album before buying, I was a little worried about doing so, but after listening, I can safely say I am glad I did! Most songs are catchy, with an unusually high standard for such a lesser-known band, and totalling at just under 45 minutes, this is an album I can put in my CD-Player, hit play and listen through. My first worry was that the songs may be a bit 'samey', as is often a problem for less-known bands, but all songs on this are distinct from one-another (aided by varying catchy riffs).

The opening two tracks "Dog-Eared Page" and "Audio Blood" are darker/more sinister than what is to come, but still keep the band's punk-rocky feel, with the interesting middle-8 sections. Both lyrically smart, the guitar riffs also work really well in these songs. They lead the way into the far more up-beat, foot-tapping "Chain Me Free" (which, as a bonus, has the music video for viewing on computers). "Borderline Creep" brings out the bands' local sound in its verses, but with a mature edge in choruses, often not found with the smaller bands. "The Restless" (possibly my favourite) incorporates a beat similar to that of a march, and the chorus uses harmonies in the backing vocals making this track so easy and fun to listen to. "More Than Local Boys" I must admit, is not as good as the others. Nonetheless, the catchy chorus, interesting drum sounds and clever mid-section lyrics still make this a good song. "Eryn Smith" is another favourite. Using interesting sounds in the intro, and a funky drum beat, you will find yourself tapping your feet in no time. "Jack Slap Cheer" is another fun song, seemingly typical, but somehow manages to make the song highly listen-to-able, with its catchy chorus.

"Scratched Out/Track 11" I have to say, is not as fun or up-beat as the previous songs on this album, but being the penultimate track, it does help draw the album to a close, being a more gentle acoustic track. The acoustic "Sick Little Suicide" is not of the same high standard as its original (also on the album and a clever track lyrically), but maybe that is to be expected for an acoustic version, and is probably a nice touch to fans who like that sort of thing.

Overall, the band uses some interesting sounds, cool guitars, plenty of catchy riffs and clever lyrics to create this CD. The general feel is that of an older/more experienced band, (and reminds me of bands who put together a 'best of' album, in that you will find yourself able to listen through without the need to skip tracks). If you are looking for new bands to get into, The Matches are clearly a great place to start. They are far more mature than your average local punk-rock band, and the song quality is on the same level as the current big pop-punk-rock bands around now in my opinion.
Lyrically clever too (see the inlay for lyrics to all tracks - another good feature of this album), well structured songs, interesting sounds, funky drum beats at times, some punk-rocky guitar solos make this a very fun band, one I would definitely recommend!