A cute, nostalgic intro digresses into a familiar punk-pop drum beat and warm, fuzzy guitar leads in "1983." "Nothing is Everything" picks up the pace, but the ugly distortion on the guitar bridge for this track sounds more like a mistake than a "cool effect." Super-produced outro. "Lonely Road" does the pretty intro thing again, and then picks up the same drum beat prevalent in all of their songs. The emotive chorus has character, but some vocal training could be in order if the band is going to continue engineering their songs all fancy-like. The rest of the album follows the same storyline. Garage band vocals and redundant beats and chord progressions don't mix with glossy production. Nice harmonies in places, valiant attempts at moving lyrics and spiritual anthems, but the saving gruff edge of past Dogwood seems to be missing (except in "Reasoner" and "Ballad of Hope," which bring in quick shots at some old glory).
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by ChrisThis is Dogwood's 6th full-length record (the first was released in 1996) and their 3rd on Tooth and Nail Records. They are often said to have the "Fat Wreck sound" though in recent years have taken a slightly more progressive turn. As a long time Dogwood fan, I would normally be eagerly awaiting this release. But after hearing their last album, "Building a Better Me", the word "eager" doesn't…Art for the Ears 2001Reviewed by Marco PovervestBuilding A Better Me, Dogwood's last record was an enjoyable effort. I still listen to it from time to time. Energetic poppy punk. Power pop punk. Matt Aragon is in the same vein. First of all, Matt Aragon is a real person who's described as 'our man in Amsterdam' and 'the super glue that has held Dogwood together when we got tired'. Got tired? These guys must be joking! You can't imagine it when…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Kerry MaffeoNot even a year has passed since punk-rockers Dogwood released Building a Better Me and already enough material has been collected and compiled to form their latest offering, Matt Aragon. Drawn from an aborted attempt at a 'punk musical' as well as songs written between October and January 2000, this album is a scattered blend of curiously melodic and signature tracks. The album opens with a…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Trae CadenheadHave you ever been on AOL Instant Messenger and been prompted to download an upgrade? So you download the upgrade and install it and quickly find that the new version is virtually identical to the old version. This is what I find with Dogwood's new album Matt Aragon. Right on the heels of their last album Building a Better Me, one of the best punk rock albums released in recent years, Matt Aragon…Similar sounding releases
2002NOFX45 or 46 Songs That Weren't Good Enough to Go on Our Other Records
2002Strung OutAn American Paradox
2002Off the RecordMulligan
2005ChampionTime Slips Away
2005Strike AnywhereTo Live in Discontent
1999YellowcardWhere We Stand
