CHAZ MATTHEWS
Chaz Matthews, former front man for the Boston punk rock band
the Dimestore Haloes, has gone solo. With the same fury
he brought to the Haloes, Chaz does now in his own recordings,
playing every instrument, alone, maybe the way he likes it. Chaz is known for his darkly poetic songwriting, and he brings
his unique rock ‘n’ roll blend of power pop, punk,
and glam rock to every song.
If you are a fan of the late and great group of riff raff known
for ten years as the Dimestore Haloes, then you are sure not be
let down with Chaz Matthews gone solo. If you are a fan
of the Ramones, The Replacements, New York Dolls, or Chuck Berry,
then you will definitely not be let down. And if you are
a fan of good power pop and rock 'n' roll tinged punk rock music
done with style the way Chaz knows how, then you will most definitely
not be let down with this solo artist. Chaz’s music
has been kicking around underrated for years now, so when you
discover him here, now you can get kicked too.
PRESS:
LOVE, CHICAGO – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Chaz Matthews, former front man of the Dimestore Haloes, is better off on his own. With every instrument recorded by Matthews in his own home, Amazing Graceless far surpasses anything the Haloes ever put down. Think Butch Walker turned angsty power pop punk with a touch of glam thrown in for good measure. His gravelly voice and upbeat riffs are often at odds with the true punk nature of the lyrics, especially in gems like “Girl from Detox”, but maybe that is exactly what makes it so much fun. The home-spun quality of the recording serves only as an additive to an album that deserves a place on the shelves alongside any of the singer-songwriters and punk rock bands out there. Thirteen songs and not a one that isn’t worth listening to again – now that is an accomplishment.
NOW WAVE – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
As a diehard Dimestore Haloes fan, I've got to kick myself in the ass for waiting this long to buy a copy of Chaz Matthews' solo CD. I am certainly making up for lost time now, as I have been listening to this album constantly. Chaz Matthews, the former singer and songwriter for Boston's Dimestore Haloes, continues to write great songs on his first solo album. Amazing Graceless is filled with thirteen instantly likeable '77 punk meets '79 power pop-inspired tunes. The album kickstarts off with the song "Girl From Detox", which kind of sounds like the New York Dolls on speed. "Holocaust Face" is a really great standout melodic song; it's not hard to see why this song was Now Wave's Song of the Year for 2005. Additional favorites include "Hate Every Word", "Can't Start Loving You", "Musta Been Drunk", and "Down On Down". Actually, all the songs are great, although my absolute favorite is "Beautiful". This song is truly a masterpiece:; a very well written, thought out song with great lyrics. Like The Clash, Social Distortion, and The Replacements, Chaz's music grabs my attention, takes me into another world, and leaves a lasting impression on my mind.
NO BRAINS – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
The promo sheet says Chaz Mathews was the front man of the Dimestore Haloes, a band I never had a chance to hear. It also says his biggest influence are: Chuck Berry, the New York Dolls, and the Ramones. Anyway, this CD is a great collection of glam punk power pop tunes. The influences above are nicely melted with a personal touch. Great songs with loud punky guitars and catchy and great vocals with mid to late ‘70s flavor. That’s a big plus, at least from me.
UNDER THE VOLCANO – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
I was a bit hesitant to put this one on, considering the picture of Mr. Matthews on the front cover made him look like a Stray Cats’ reject. Not so musically and quite the opposite in fact! This former Dimestore Haloes leader writes songs that look back to a ‘70s New York punk rock from the Dolls all the way to Blondie. Chaz recorded all the songs in his apartment, but fuck, it adds to the early Replacements/Jabbers flavor sprinkled throughout the platter. And “Holocaust Face” would make a great radio single.
AMP – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
What a great piece of rock ‘n’ roll this recording is. Chaz, better know for his stint as the front man for the Dimestore Haloes, shows he can cut it on his own on his solo album. What you have here is thirteen songs of power pop and punk greatness, bringing to mind the likes of the Buzzcocks and Johnny Thunders. It’s really that good. For you old fucks, this is gonna be right up your alley. For all you youngsters still trying to cut your teeth on real punk rock, you should dig this too.
NOW WAVE (LR) – SONG OF THE YEAR AWARD – "HOLOCAUST FACE":
If you've never quite been able to understand why I love this guy's music so much, I'm encouraging you to give old Chaz one more chance. As much as I like all the old Haloes stuff (and still listen to it a lot), I have to say that his solo debut totally blows away anything he's done before. It's really just a collection of homemade demos recorded alone, with Chaz playing all the instruments himself. But the songs are just amazing, and "Holocaust Face" easily takes my Song of the Year honors for 2005. But don't take my word for it. Go and listen to the song yourself.
CARBON 14 – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
I’ve been anxiously waiting for this solo album since the Dimestore Haloes went MIA, and I am not disappointed! The stoic cover photo might lead you to believe this to be a Billy Lee Riley disc from the ‘50s (indeed there is a cool rockabilly and blues influence), but stuff like Johnny Thunders’ classic So Alone and that first, great Generation X album come through loud and clear. The lyrics are dark and literate… razor sharp melodies and harmonies tear at you… spidery guitars bite and slash… the voice has a naked, dusty edge. Here are some additional, essential facts about Chaz: he plays Gibson and Epiphone guitars; he wears only Wrangler jeans; he uses only Dax hair pomade. On this CD he wrote all the songs, played all the instruments, did all the production, engineering, and mixing, and he wrote the liner notes. This is as solo as solo can get. You can bet that on his first kindergarten report card the teacher wrote, “Does not play well with others.” It’s all about the attitude. In my book, Chaz is a grade A punk rock ‘n’ roll machine.
RAZORCAKE – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
At first look I thought I’d hear another chapter in the “punk guy goes back to his blues roots.” I was a little off. Sure, it’s bitter and self-degrading, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t rock! I almost feel bad for enjoying this guy’s misery so much.
NO FRONT TEETH – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Chaz was the Dimestore Haloes vocalist/songwriter so you know to expect some gritty punk rock ‘n’ roll, and in this solo project, he strips it right down, raw and very open. This naked, more understated sound is a fantastic vehicle for Chaz’s immersed and sincere vocals. No question this guy can and always has been able to deliver fantastic songs, but this is the best and most beautifully exposed I have heard him, and I think it works so effectively. There’s no strict definition here – Chaz is in complete command and steers the listener all over the place and the ride is amazing. Chaz plays everything on here and I wouldn’t want it any other way – this is 100% him and the way he mixes melody with melancholy is incomparable. An inspiring and stirring record, and what a fantastic title too.
MAXIMUM ROCK ‘N’ ROLL – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
A solo artist release from the former Dimestore Haloes front man. Good power pop that reminds me of the Starjets as well as Stiv Bators stuff. The bleak lyrics are actually much darker than the music. Mix in a happy beach song or a sappy love song to ease the pain, dude. This guy played everything on this, Rikk Agnew style. A very good full-length.
EAR CANDY – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
You got to love any album that kicks off with a song titled “Girl From Detox”. Amazing Graceless has more hooks than your Grandpa’s tackle box. Imagine a clean and sober New York Dolls fronted by that guy that sings for the Dimestore Haloes. Damn, this is the guy that sings for the Dimestore Haloes, no wonder he sounds like that guy. Thirteen power pop, punk, and glam flavored songs that will have anyone with ears drumming on the nearest available surface. Very highly recommended, especially if you own anything by Johnny Thunders, the Ramones, or Stiv Bators.
NOW WAVE (JR) – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
The songwriting here is as good as I’ve ever heard on a rock ‘n’ roll recording. I’m talking a sublime hooky splendor a la the Beat Angels and American Heartbreak. Really! Pop lovers will be awed by the marks of melodic craftsmanship on display here: great catchy choruses; sharp, stinging chord changes; juicy hooks that would have made Jim Ellison proud; and sensational, stick-in-your-head melodies that you’ll be whistling and humming for days. And of course, there are the soulful, guttural vocals that you either love or hate by now.
THE NOISE MAGAZINE – ABOUT CHAZ MATTHEWS:
In a just world, Ryan Adams would be doing his tribute-to-my-heroes thing in Holiday Inns across America, while Chaz Matthews posters would adorn the bedrooms of 16-year-old girls everywhere. This guy can write, sing, and play.
DIGGIN FOR DIRT – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
This is a record for young girls who crossed out every picture but Chaz’s on the Dimestore Haloes’ CD covers. This is a record for musician-type punks who always yearned to hear Chaz’s deft songwriting and playing unsullied by the clumsy playing of his band. For this disc brings you unadulterated Chaz, recording at home with all instruments himself, displaying his musical talents to shine completely on their own. These songs are the graduate school level for the glammy pop and punk rock tunes heard on earlier Haloes discs Revolt Into Style and Long Ride to Nowhere. The quick, three chord hook fests are abundant here, but they share equal bill with the sophisticated glam/pop strut of songs like "Holocaust Face", "Hate Every Word", and "Beautiful". The punk numbers sound like songs that were pulled out of old Haloes discs for being too good. The slower numbers take the tradition of the old band's songs like "Heart of Thorns" and "Wreck With Me" and urges them on a late night walk to greater potentials, and they make it pretty damn far. Poignant yet accessibly relatable lyrics meld seamlessly with his omnivorous influences to create a soundscape that is at once sugary and haunting. It's as if The Raspberries’ "Go All the Way" met ways with "Dead Man's Curve" for a whole album, and there are barely any bum tracks on the whole album. Here is a renowned tunesmith making the kind of record that few backing bands could help him produce.
These are basically home recorded demos that Chaz recorded after the demise of the Haloes, when the insular rocker had tired of band life. This is proof positive that reclusive behavior can be a boon to great things. Spinning tales of girls, alcohol, and rock ‘n’ roll, Chaz’s buoyant three chord pop is the confectionary soundtrack to a Brian Wilson style retread of summer time pop themes, and it's a fuckin' blast to listen to. What can I say? I tried to play drums as best I could.
VEGLAM – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Chaz Matthews, former leader of the deceased but now cult Dimestore Haloes, is coming back under the lights with this album ironically untitled Amazing Graceless without any other help than himself. Chaz plays all instruments on this album (something quite rare and a real performance), and Amazing Graceless is a pure melodic pop punk album that shows once again that Mr. Matthews is one of the most talented songwriters in his generation. I had the chance to talk to Chaz a few years ago through Jeff Drake’s message board, and I realized how humble, passionate, and talented he is. Passion and talent, two words that sum up the guy's music quite well.
BMO’S WORLD – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Allow me to let you in on a little secret: in the world of rock ‘n’ roll, nothing new has been done, created, or developed since Buddy Holly died in that plane crash. Whether or not Buddy would have come up with anything really earth-shatteringly new and different post-1957 is a question we’ll never know the answer to. But the irrefutable fact is, all you need now is exactly all Buddy needed: three chords (four if you wanna push the envelope), a hook, and a beat the kids can dance to. That’s it. Chaz Matthews knows this to be true and revels in the freedom and power available to a creative soul working within the structure of the greatest cultural development of the last millennium. He has said he’d like to play other styles, but rock ‘n’ roll is his native language. And let me tell you, he’s what you might call fluent. It’s hard not to gush when you talk about this guy’s music. It’s alive, almost transcendent in its simplicity, yet deep and full of subtleties which don’t all reveal themselves at first, waiting to be discovered little by little as you listen over and over again. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve hit the play button after the final track “Rocketship Down”, and I haven’t been disappointed once. It’s solid, beginning to end. And unlike a lot of “I played all the instruments myself” kind of recordings, this one doesn’t feel like it was cooked up in a scientist’s laboratory. It feels like a real band in a real studio, recorded more-or-less live, with blemishes and minor imperfections left in to add a little extra flavor.
Most of the songs on here were previously released by Chaz with minimal production on homemade CD-Rs. Here they get a little bit of polish from Full Breach Kicks, but not much, which is good ‘cuz the unpolished rough edges are what make this more than just a collection of dynamite songs. Chaz might be a recluse, and you might never get a chance to see him perform live (despite his declarations about putting together a new band). But you can, no, you must, hear this album.
NOW WAVE (LR) – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
If you're totally unfamiliar with the music of Chaz Matthews and the Dimestore Haloes, then Amazing Graceless is definitely the place to start. Sure, the album is made up entirely of home-recorded demo tracks, and the production and sound quality leave a great deal to be desired. But without a doubt, this is the finest collection of songs that Chaz has ever put his name on. And to be honest, production and sound quality were never the Haloes’ forte anyway.
The young Chaz Matthews rose to prominence largely on the unassailability of his musical tastes. But over the years he's become one of the most distinct artists in the entire underground rock game. This is an individuality forged through years of tough luck, trying times, and the perseverance to survive it all. You hear one of his songs and you know it's him. Love him or hate him, there's only one Chaz Matthews. Granted, he's no Michael Buble on vocals. But for my money, he's a better songwriter and lead guitarist than just about any current rock n' roller you could name. Bedrock influences like Chuck Berry, Johnny Thunders, the Stones, and the Ramones remain obvious reference points, but Amazing Graceless sounds uniquely Chaz-esque. Consider "Hate Every Word," which opens with an elegant guitar line a la Johnny Marr, kicks into some bass/riff interplay recalling early Jam, sails into a pre-chorus with Cure-like melodic leads, and backs the big hook with some snappy tambourine action. All those little touches are neat, but it's still Matthews’ voice and words that stand out the most.
Matthews recorded Amazing Graceless at home Prince-style, playing all the instruments himself and doing his own thing without any consideration for band mates or the expectations of fans. And while many of these tracks will bring to mind the sloppy punk ‘n' roll kicks of Matthews’ old band, clearly The Artist Formerly Known as Chaz Haloe has transcended genres. These are great songs period, and they owe as much to classic singer/songwriters and old country outlaws as they do to any punk rock legend. These are songs about one man's experience in life and love, written entirely for personal reasons and perhaps never intended for public consumption. These are love songs that do more than merely scrape the surface; they plunge the dagger all the way in, gushing forth all the hope, heartbreak, horror, loss, longing, despair, agony, and ecstasy that define relationships between men and women, every melody bearing a scar. The fact that such emotional depth is achieved through such a simplistic musical medium is a tribute to Matthews’ formidable talent.
If the word "pop" refers to the likes of Material Issue, the Plimsould, and Elvis Costello, then Amazing Graceless is Chaz Matthews’ pop album. Without abandoning his fondness for loud guitar and three chords, Matthews has embraced his inner Rick Springfield and written the most melodic and beautifully-crafted material of his career. "Medication" and the (probably) Jim Ellison influenced "Beautiful" are pure pop personified. "Holocaust Face", with a chorus so catchy it sounds like a hook from a K-Tel Records commercial circa 1980, gets my vote for best song of 2005. Earthy rockers "Hating the Weekend" and "Drinkin' for Two" are less overtly pop but still insanely catchy. More punk oriented fans may take to the Haloes-like "Can't Start Loving You" and the Dead Boys-ish tail-kicker "Rocketship Down", which is fiercer than a baby-eating dingo.
One might be tempted to hear this album and say, "Man, this could be a great album if it were recorded in a real studio with a real band.” But fuck it – no ifs apply here. The musicianship on Amazing Graceless is fine, and if I heard these songs recaptured in a fancy studio, I'd probably say they sounded "too slick". I can understand why some people are put off by the lo-fi thing, but to me it's about the songs. You can either write songs or you can't. And this Chaz Matthews cat – he can write 'em!
DIG IT – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Chaz Matthews était le leader des défunts Dimestore Haloes. Le groupe n'existe plus mais comme Chaz sait tout faire, il poursuit l'aventure en solo. Et vraiment en solo, il fait tout, chanteur, guitariste rythmique et soliste, batteur, bassiste, choriste, pianiste, excusez du peu. Il fait même aussi l'ingénieur du son et le producteur. C'est peut-être d'ailleurs un peu trop puisqu'il finit par perdre de vue, ou d'oreille, quelques trucs primordiaux. Du coup le mix manque un peu de puissance, la batterie bricole vainement, la voix est trop en avant et les guitares en pâtissent. Et c'est dommage, parce qu'elles sont bien les guitares... Mais bon, nous voilà avec un disque power pop 'n' roll (Amazing Graceless) fait à la maison qui ressemble fort à une démo pour gros label, genre "écoutez ce que je peux faire tout seul et imaginez ce que ça donnerait avec un vrai groupe et de gros moyens." Qu'ils n'oublient pas un vrai producteur tant qu'à faire. Reste les qualités de compositeurs de Chaz et son habileté à pondre des mélodies musclées, on restera donc attentifs.
GLITZINE – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Chaz Matthews is amazing on so many levels, and his new solo CD Amazing Graceless is further proof. His hooks are some of the best, and his voice never goes beyond its boundaries, but it rules within them. You want a voice with attitude? Chaz has it. You want a voice that is hurting? Chaz has it. His guitar playing is precise, sloppy, and well tuned to hit all the right notes to match his emotions. The guy knows rock ‘n’ roll, the guy knows his emotions, and he doesn't shy from honesty.
The CD opens with a blast. His past band the Dimestore Haloes specialized in punk style that sit with bands such as Generation X as much as it did with Hanoi Rocks and the Rolling Stones. The beginning track "Girl From Detox" and the second track "100 Years O' Fun" lands right in with that style, though adding a touch more glam to it than the Haloes ever touched. "Detox" is a bit of a Thunders tribute, using Thunders’ style lead breaks, and even mentioning ol' Johnny in the lyric "I'm in love with the girl from the detox ward / told her about Johnny Thunders / she'd never heard of him before." That's a bit of a nice thing about Chaz – if you know who his influences are, you will find them hiding in his music, but they never become the main thing or rip-offs. He's very mindful of his influences and the people that he loves. His tributes come in the form of a note played here or there, or a guitar tone used at a certain time. You'll find The Clash if you look, but it won't jump into your face. In my opinion Chaz really shines when he isn't rocking out at full force, but rather when he finds that groove and swagger he showcases on songs such as "Holocaust Face". It's not a mellow tune by any means, but it moves at an easier pace than the punk style.
This CD seems to be a compilation of things Chaz has worked on since the demise of the Haloes, especially since the production changes a few times on the disc. In the beginning the vocals sound like they were recorded in a tunnel, but by song five, "Can't Start Loving You", there’s a drier vocal production. Plus certain songs have a very similar feel to what the HALOES were doing on their final release The Ghosts Of Saturday Night (though to be fair, I still have yet to buy that one, though from what I have of it in the form of a pre-mix sample from Chaz, it's in my top 20 of all time).
There really is not one single bad song on this CD as is the typical thing from Chaz. He never writes or records bad songs. There might be a weaker moment here and there, on this one it falls to the final track for me, "Rocketship Down", which is a bit of a standard rocker and doesn't really close out how I was hoping the CD would. But it isn't bad. But that's fine, there are so many great songs here that a song like that one might be a great song anywhere else, but it is a bit short when up against songs like "Hating the Weekend" and "Black Heart Stationary".
So yeah, Chaz has another winner for me. The man is criminally overlooked by the world and he deserves to be a star. Someday the world might catch up, but I doubt it. 8 out of 10 stars.
OX FANZINE – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Chaz Matthews von 1992 – 2003 sänger bei den inzwischen aufgelösten the Dimestore Haloes und legt nun mit Amazing Graceless sein solodebüt vor. Obwohl dieses album doch etwas aus meinem herkömmlichen besprechungsraster fällt, gefällt es mir ganz außerordentlich. Chaz verbindet Klassiker wie Social Distortion und die Ramones zu einer synthese, die wirklich rockt, aber auch die eigenwillige melodik von all besitzt. Wie der titel des albums auch schon zeigt, hat Chaz seinen Spaß daran, die dinge textlich auf den kopf zu stellen, so hört ein lied auf den Titel "Can't Start Loving You" und auch Amazing Graceless gleicht einem augenzwinkern. Vor allem das songwriting überzeugt voll und ganz und die unterproduktion hat durchaus ihren charme. Zwar kann Chaz Matthews nicht ganz an die genialität der Dimestore Haloes anschließen, aber außerordentlich ist Amazing Graceless allemal. Beinahe schon ein richtiger klassiker! Eight out of ten stars!
EVERY DAY IS LIKE SUNDAY – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Le gazier vient de sortir un album solo, enregistré et joué par ses soins Amazing Graceless (sur le label Full Breach Kicks), 13 titres divins, à l’image de son écriture, sobres mais ultra efficaces... des chansons loin d’être inoffensives, qui agrippent le cœur et ne le lâchent plus. Pop punk tantôt mélodique et énergique, tantôt nerveuse et piquante, pétrie dans la vieille farine du rock ‘n’ roll... il réutilise la recette de son ancien groupe, Dimestore Haloes, à savoir des chansons évidentes, débarrassées de toute futilité, qui ne laissent pas de place aux boursouflures et aux caches-misère... du pur, du dur, du vrai. Enregistré chez lui, simplement accompagné d’une boîte à rythme , la production est réduite au minimum, des prises urgentes, un mixage minimaliste, on l’imaginerait presque assis sur son lit, sautillant et chantant ses refrains complètement accrocheurs... le son rêche, sec et basique ne nuit pas trop à l’ensemble... c’est tellement frais et honnête... comme un démo d’une très grande qualité, quoi... quand la matière est si douce, pourquoi l’enrober de cochonneries indigestes? Imaginez la légèreté des Undertones, la classe des Buzzcocks, les refrains de Cheap Trick et la fougue des premiers enregistrements des Replacements... ceux qui connaissent American Heartbreak et Libertine (les Ricains maquillés pas les Anglais au bout du rouleau...) savent de quel bois se chauffe le désormais fameux Chaz Matthews... un vrai bon gars ce mec, ouaip.
SLAM ROCKS – ABOUT AMAZING GRACELESS:
Senza destare troppo clamore alcune uscite discografiche restano spesso, nonostante il considerevole livello artistico, in una sorta di circuito chiuso. E' il caso dei Dimestore Haloes in cui militava per l’appunto Chaz Matthews, che pur avendo pubblicato dei buoni dischi, faticavano oltremisura nell'affermare il proprio nome in campo internazionale. Nato a Detroit nel 1970, Chaz si sposta nel 1991 a Boston dove inizia a suonare glam punk con i Saints In Vain per poi formare nel 1994 i Dimestore Haloes, avventura che durò fino al 2003 quando decise di intraprendere la carriera solista e che l’ha visto anche in veste di scrittore pubblicando il romanzo dal titolo Lost In The Supermarket nel 2004.
Amazing Graceless è il secondo solo album che si va ad aggiungere a Almost Forever A Go-Go e anche qui Metthews suona tutti gli strumenti, perdendo un po’ di freschezza compositiva, così anche i suoni penalizzano quelle che secondo me sarebbero delle ottime song se solo avessero una resa migliore. A parte questo, le sonorità devono molto a gente come Johnny Thunders, The Replacements, e The Jam senza dimenticare gli insegnamenti di Chuck Berry e la ruffianeria del glam, sonorità adatte ad un audience che predilige atomosfere allegrotte e massiccie dosi rock ‘n’ roll, una versione meno punkeggiante di Beat Angels e American Heartbreak, ma con suoni scadenti.
