In Print  Home  Directories  Reviews  Get In Touch  Forums  Links  Gig Guide  

MATT BODMAN & THE VALENTINE GRIND: Burn

Matt Bodman can write a tune alright – he’s got a very good ear for melodies and this debut is a pleasant listen. The vocals, song structure and piano all scream Greg Johnson to me, and this proves a very difficult reference to get away from. Other reference guides would be Betchadupa in some of the harmonies and Coldplay’s Chris Martin in the vocals. The bio claims this three-piece formed from the ashes of various punk bands, which is astounding given the AC poppy slant of this release. Wisely, the album kicks off with Better Off – a really strong track that would be right at home on commercial radio. Hamilton Gardens (a tip to their locale) is a nice tune that hints at The Beatles in its arrangement. I Shot A Man is rather confronting, while I Love New York is just ridiculous fun. Recorded in the ’Tron and Mt Maunganui before mastered in Sweden, the album tapers off a bit over the last four tracks. The artwork (especially the band photo) does nothing to convey the style of music, giving completely the wrong idea. That’s a shame, as at least half of this album is worthy of attention.

Related Information