Matchbook Romance is one of those bands that fell into the ‘emo’ category of music. With their first full length, Stories and Alibis, Matchbook Romance was looking to make themselves out to be emo kings. Skip to the release of Voices, the band’s sophomore album. By then Matchbook Romance had built up a following that would buy their CD the instant it came out. But there are plenty of nay-sayers that would not.
I was one of those nay-sayers. Until I caught myself clapping along to a song on the radio to a song called "Monsters." I enjoyed it and thought that it was a nice difference from what I was used to coming from bands nowadays. That is when I discovered that the song was in fact off of the CD, Voices. So I decided to get a copy. Even then I still assumed that, that would be the only good song on the CD. The truth of the matter is Matchbook Romance really outdid themselves on this one. They strayed away from their emo roots. No longer do you hear lyrics like “my eyes burn from these tears.” On Voices you are more likely to hear more inspiring lyrics such as “these are my sins/these are my regrets/I want to trade them for some truth.” Matchbook Romance also evolved instrumentally as well. Their songs have become much more epic like in the chorus to “Say it like you mean it” and throughout the song “Surrender.”
When an artist puts out a new album, they usually say that their sound has matured, and there is nothing more than a slight difference. The same old songs, with a new catchphrase. Matchbook Romance has certainly matured, you can read it, hear it and feel it on Voices.