Matt

Programmer & Designer / Senior Staff Writer — London

Matt's latest post – March 25, 2024
Matt's personal site

Biography

I'm a web developer working for a British newspaper and have been involved with SPB from the very first day. When I'm not fretting over the site I enjoy road cycling, cooking and more web development fun. Hi Jon!

Favorite bands

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, At The Drive-In, Rocky Votolato, The Mars Volta, The Beatles, Saves The Day, Simon And Garfunkel, The Exploding Hearts, The Lawrence Arms, AFI, Sufjan Stevens, The Clash, Broken Social Scene, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Converge, W

Matt's most recent reviews Browse all

AFI

AFI (The Blood Album)
Concord Music Group (2017)

Album number ten for the ever-evolving Californian four piece, whose shift in sound from skate punk to hardcore to "goth punk" to pop-influenced radio rock to... whatever 2009's Crash Love was... is well documented. And now here we are, after the gritty, aggressive Burials: a self-titled album also known as "The Blood Album".At first listen it's not too dissimilar from … Read more

Janelle Monáe

The Electric Lady
Wondaland Arts Society (2013)

It's encouraging that after releasing one of the best records of 2010, Janelle Monáe wasn't rushed into releasing the follow-up album to The ArchAndroid until she was good and ready. Three years have given her and her Wondaland Arts Society time to regroup and evolve and the range and talent of her collaborators this time around reflect the maturity Monáe's sound has … Read more

Green Day

¡Uno!
Reprise (2012)

Thank god it's not another concept album.That's perhaps untrue, though: maybe this is just a concept album broken over three separate records: ¡Uno! is the first in a trilogy (wittily to be followed by ¡Dos! and, of course, ¡Tre!). That said, the forty one minutes of this, Green Day's ninth record, don't seem to contain the same kind of forced … Read more

Muse

The 2nd Law
Warner\Helium 3 (2012)

The year is 2052. Society as we know it has completely changed. The laws of government and nation have crumbled into dust, trodden down firmly by the feet of innumerable footsoldiers of the new autocratic rulers of the world. Big Brother's voice rings from every speaker; CCTV cameras record every communication between state-fearing citizen and obedient lickspittle. Comrades huddle in … Read more

Matt's most recent features Browse all

Send More Paramedics

Interviews • August 7, 2021

2021 might seem like a challenging time to resurrect a zombie-themed thrash metal/hardcore band, but the path of the rotting undead is never an easy one to tread (or shuffle). Thankfully for fans of British zombiecore pioneers Send More Paramedics, that's just what they've chosen to do. Resurrected for a second time, the four piece have reformed a decade after … Read more

Coalition of the Webzines

Music • January 26, 2013

Who still reads webzines? Who still publishes them? In a world where Spotify, Twitter, Facebook and Myspace (again) are drowning users in new music, it’s clear that music is more important than ever - but music publications might not be. Of course, we at SPB feel differently, so we reached out to a bunch of fellow punk/alternative webzines to see … Read more

Larry Livermore

Interviews • May 6, 2012

The phrase "elder statesman" doesn't really feel appropriate for the punk scene, but people like Larry Livermore are the closest thing we have to it -- founder of Lookout Records, frontman, columnist, blogger, and now, curator. Larry is teaming up with Adeline Records to release The Thing That Ate Larry Livermore: a compilation of up-and-coming bands that Larry feels need … Read more

Against Me!

Interviews

  Since their formation, Against Me! have enjoyed a somewhat cult following in the punk scene, and tend to split audiences down the middle in terms of opinion. Their recent signing to Sire Records attracted a lot of attention and many "fans", already feeling alienated by the band's previous signing to Fat Wreck Chords, denounced the band as sellouts. Anyone … Read more

Matt's most recent blogposts Browse all

School of Song Part 2: songwriting 101

Posted by Matt • March 3, 2022

When I last wrote here, I was halfway through a four-week songwriting course taught by Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes fame, facilitated by LA-based School of Song. It’s an online class conducted over Discord and Zoom – each week, participants are set a homework assignment, and join a Zoom breakout … Read more

School of Song: learning to write with Fleet Foxes

Posted by Matt • January 24, 2022

When I saw the words "songwriting workshop with Robin Pecknold", I knew at once that I was going to end up signing up for it. I've been a Fleet Foxes fan since the early days (and don't try to come for me because I have the receipts) so when I … Read more

Elliott Smith: a personal remembrance

Posted by Matt • October 24, 2013

Elliott Smith at his last-ever NYC show, January 29th 2003. He killed himself that October.Photo: Alexis I have this friend, let's call her L. We "met" on a music messageboard back when things like that were still popular. We lived in different cities and we never met in person, but … Read more

Book Review: Davey Havok - Pop Kids

Posted by Matt • April 7, 2013

(This review contains copious spoilers: if you intend to read the novel yourself, proceed with caution. We're posting it as a blog since it's not strictly music-related, despite being written by a prominent musician. Now read on!) Joining the vast array of musicians-turned-novelists (wait, what?), Davey Havok of AFI fame throws … Read more

Matt's most recent news stories Browse all

First SPB podcast episode of 2024 released

Posted in Podcast on March 25, 2024

It's new podcast episode time and you know what that means – go here to listen to it, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts or other podcast apps here. This episode features music from Nastyfacts, The Senders, Attic Salt, Chat Pile, Clown Sounds, Howardian and more. Go listen! Read more

Botch release first new music in 20 years

Posted in Bands on August 24, 2022

Mathcore legends Botch are back with a surprise new song after two decades since their breakup. The band had already announced their signing to Sargent House records in order to release some vinyl reissues, but they've just shared "One Twenty Two", a brand new song – see it below. No … Read more

Parker release debut single

Posted in Records on July 5, 2022

Derry, Northern Ireland punk newcomers Parker have released "Never Miss", their debut single. They're touring across the UK and Ireland later this year (see below for the dates) and you can stream the song on Spotify here. The band formed during the pandemic and are aiming to release their first album in … Read more

Incisions release new single

Posted in MP3s on July 5, 2022

Manchester, UK hardcore punks Incisions have released a new single, "Mine To Lose". It follows their other recent single, "Gasoline", and you can watch the video below. Fresh from touring with DOA, Adolescents, DI and more, they're promising a new sound which owes something to Rocket From The Crypt and … Read more