The Specimen
New York City, New York, United States | INDIE
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http://www.vip-showcase.com/ - Media Gallen
When it comes to EPs, my attitude has always been that the music had better be so good that it leaves the listener wanting more.
But hey, if the music is as good as Do U Damage, the new EP by The Specimen, there may be hope yet for unknown artists to break through to the mainstream.
The Specimen is actually the moniker of wunderkind Matt Gorny, who handles virtually all instruments and vocals with single-handed ease. The title track is a catchy number reminiscent of the British group Blur, though it would have benefited from a stronger and more gradual intro. “Hot Stuff” is a slinky number where Gorny utilizes his upper register, and with lyrics like “you better check yourself” and “give up your money shot” the tune exemplifies what the bling-bling 2000s have been all about.
“Kick In The Teeth” is probably the best song of all, though from the looks of things it was added as a bonus track almost as an afterthought.
The music is inventive and punchy throughout Do You Damage, so it is fairly obvious Gorny knows how to craft the perfect electronic dance/pop song where the hook is the essential component.
There’s no telling what the future might hold for The Specimen, though something tells me this act could give The Killers some serious competition. Matt Gorny may not have charisma like Brandon Flowers, but he certainly has the talent and potential.
Rating: B
- The Daily Vault
Discography
Guest vocals on Risque single Plastic Lover (July 2009)
Guest vocals on Solitaire single Fool For You (summer 2008)
Guest vocals on Craig C single Rock U (release TBA)
Do U Damage Remixes - 2008
Wish It Would Snow - Holiday single, Dec 2008
Do U Damage EP - Oct 2006
The One - GoodandEvil vs The Specimen Remix featured on the album by Saskia (SLSK Records) - released Nov 2006
Do U Damage featured in film Boy Culture, at the Tribeca Film Festival, Apr 2006
Hot Stuff featured in film Another Gay Movie, at the Tribeca Film Festival, Apr 2006
streamed on www.nextbighit.com, Mar 2006
Hot Stuff featured in Party Party on Bravo channel, Jan 2006
Redefine Magazine Compilation CD, Oct 2005
Photos
Bio
The Specimen is the brainchild of songwriter/singer/and multi-instrumentalist Matt Gorny, who spent his childhood in Poland, under the protection of the communist bloc. He eventually found his way into the clutches of Grammy Award winning production team GoodandEvil who work with artists such as Felix Da Housecat, B-52’s, Kelis, Naty Botero, Beyonce and Ludacris.
The Specimen collaborated as songwriter and vocalist with the French band Risqué, who will release an album in the summer of 2009 through Universal Records. He also has been writing with Zoned Out for a Jill Jones 2009 release. The Specimen has won multiple songwriting awards including The John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Billboard World Song Contest and the group has performed the winning track at the Billboard Song Awards Show.
The video for Do U Damage has been selected for the 2008 SXSW Film Festival and has already won the top prize in the New Music Video Awards. His songs are featured in two films at the Tribeca Film Festival, and in a reality TV show on the Bravo Channel. A remix done with GoodandEvil won 1st place in a competition and released on SLSK Records. Songs have charted on college radio stations all over the country.
As a live unit, The Specimen is a potent force reinventing the psychedelic mutant pop into an energetic and cathartic musical experience. With the help of a few friends; Jesse McGrath on guitar, Giovanni Palacios on bass, Coleman on drums, the group confidently transforms the inventive studio sound into a captivating and seismic live performance of superstar dimensions. Mark Furnas of Billboard says: “Gorny exudes star power to match any major act.�
Call it: Dance, Rock, Pop, Punk... all and none of the above. Always with an ear for catchy hooks and a mind for clever lyrics, The Specimen makes music you can dance, fuck and crash cars to.
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