Matthew & the Judes

Matthew & the Judes are a college-based sextet from Churchville by way of State College, PA. Claiming to be fans of Of Montreal, Daniel Johnston, As Tall as Lions, Matt Pond PA and Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, Matthew & the Judes play a quirky, ambient strain of lo-fi, indie pop that’s off-kilter, catchy and wholly original. Sprinkled into a five song EP are trumpet, glockenspiel, violin, piano, woodblock and cello.

Aside from the spotty vocals, which are listenable on some songs and average on others, the album is a towering triumph of the indie pop variety. Album opener “Waves” only has three lines of verses before it segues into a sea of chiming, orchestral beauty. It’s the kind of song to listen to when busting open the doors to greet a warm, summer morning. One can almost visualize the Pixar scene unfolding as the trumpet wails, an acoustic guitar strums and a flourish of melodious grandeur ensues. Truth be told, of all the songs that have come across my desk so far this year, few have an album opener as triumphant or cheery as "Waves."

Then reality sets in. Second track “And Bye Bye,” which vocalist Whittle admits is “ostensibly an As Tall as Lions send up,” tries its hand at sincerity, but unfortunately falters, and is thankfully saved by ringing guitars and an amalgam of brassy and acoustic trimmings. Sadly though it’s the album’s weakest track and a bad position for a second track. From there the album is hit-and-miss, as it tries to cover up the vocals porousness but doesn’t really ever get there. Songs “Winter Blues,” title track “Where on Earth,” and instrumental “The Gardener,” are all buoyant and unique and evoke a Neutral Milk Hotel-like sentiment, but leave the listener hoping for a little more. That is not to say there isn’t a lot to like here. The sonic dimensions of the disc are bold, musically deft and shimmering, but one needs a little more lyrical and vocal padding to be completely satisfied.

Considering the band is still in college and probably limited to both funds and time constraints, one does not expect something along the lines of Oh Inverted World. And sadly, Where on Earth is far from those heights. What it is though, is the sound of a true DIY band not afraid to take chances nor afraid to think outside of the box. Staying true to their influences, which also include Sean Lennon, Jon Brion and Elliot Smith, the quintet puts together songs that are promising and mildly captivating.

With music being so cookie-cutter these days, there’s a lot to like about the six songs on Where on Earth, and with plans to put together a full-length in the fall with a bigger budget, there’s at least ample room for growth. Not yet ready to be crowned an artist-to-watch, Matthew & The Judes are on the brink of something big, let’s hope their next release changes that. - Gregory Robson of Absolute Punk

Full text available at:
http://onwardstate.com/2008/12/13/this-weeks-music-in-review-pt-1/

"The first band, Matthew and the Judes, was good. A local band from State College, they clearly possessed the “indie” vibe of recent. This may be their biggest strength. The band was a great fix for these sorts of cravings, and they’re still unknown, too! They fit in perfectly – especially with the following acts. They had a nice blend of guitar, bass and drums which featured the occasional xylophone and trumpet – something unexpected (until I saw Margot, of course). The continual cut out of the house main speakers left the band as puzzled as the audience, yet they persisted on and put on a nice set despite the fact. They were fantastic openers: short and sweet, leaving me wanting to investigate more." - Tim from onwardstate.com

"Since Radio Exile last spotlighted [link] Matthew & the Judes [Myspace], the student quartet – Matthew Whittle (guitar/vox), Gabe Liberti (drums), Jessica Radlow (keys), and Ryan Jordan (trumpet/glockenspiel) – completed a freshman EP entitled Where on Earth?, and sustained an impressive grassroots following. In fact, the current play count on their Myspace page boasts well over six thousand total “listens” in just two weeks’ time.

Melodically eccentric, yet musically adept, the record totes a unique brand of mellowed pop. Clocking in at a mere nineteen minutes, the six distinctive selections feature multi-layered orchestration, including well-placed trumpet lines, violin strokes, and twinkles on the glockenspiel. “Waves” and “The Gardner” are prime examples; both are enjoyable instrumentals, with the latter sonically fit for a Charlie Brown Christmas special. “Winter Blues” is the creative gem and album standout, baiting with its addictive horn hook and subtle “ooh-las.”

Cover –to-cover, the music is no doubt easier to digest than some of the vocal delivery. Much of the wordplay is verbose with simple rhyme schemes and pocket prose, which at times, has Whittle sounding somewhat mealy-mouthed. Despite such snags, though, Earth is still a bold effort. And while it may be rusty and in need of some fine-tuning, the potential for more polished pop is in the cards." - Elie Z. Perler for radioexile.com