Matt Suggs - Golden Days Before They End
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label:
Merge Records
Format: CD
intro
Matt Suggs' solo lp reminds me of the great work achieved by the Australian band The Triffids. He was formerly a member of Butterglory and Sister Ray. On his own the evidently talented Mr Suggs gets
Matt Suggs' solo lp reminds me of the great work achieved by the Australian band The Triffids. He was formerly a member of Butterglory and Sister Ray. On his own the evidently talented Mr Suggs gets his music across substantially better. Butterglory occasionally ran rancid with too much lo-fidelity recording, but as a solo entrepeneur Matt Suggs, however, is a crafted dairy farmer. He's changed the location and on the sleeve of "Golden Days Before They End" Mr Suggs stands next to an orange yard along a wide open road. The album was recorded in Kansas. "Golden Days Before They End" will please those who, like me, dearly miss David McComb's gentle, slightly nasal voice and singing. Joyful and melancholic beauties alternate on this orthodox country-pop album. The songs are short and to the point. The line-up is standard with a star role for Ranjit Arab on the piano, and on "Harold Had A Hunch" there's a great interaction between the piano and Mr Suggs on guitar. Matt Suggs immortalises himself on the song 'The Rambler vs. The Vulture/Devils Dance' where his songwriting grows to majestic proportions. The track starts off as a re-run of 'Egyptian Dance" by The Modern Lovers but then changes to superbly melancholic C&W twang. The country feel is never dominant and with echoes of The Triffids and Elliott Smith present on most tracks, this album is actually quite accessible. Throughout it has a excellent drift. Matt's singing is emotional, soft-toned but crystal clear. A remarkably mature album performed by a relative newcomer.
Track Listing:-
1 Skeleton Blues In B Flat Minor2 Soon the Moon Will Glow
3 Eloise
4 Where's Your Patience Dear
5 The Rambler vs The Vulture/Devils Dance
6 Harold Had a Hunch
7 She Kept Time To The Teardrops
8 Farewell To A Tightrope Queen
9 Western Zephyr
10 Rambler's Ride
11 Walk With Him
12 Kisses
Label Links:-
http://www.mergerecords.com/https://www.facebook.com/Merge-Records-88476979019/timeline/
https://twitter.com/mergerecords
https://www.youtube.com/user/mergerecords
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Sukie Smith - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart