Centro-Matic -- Hipster Music

All the Falsest Hearts Can Try

Dual Hawks

Centro-Matic and its de facto leader, Will Johnson, are a hard band to categorize. They're certainly not country or folk or anything, but they have that dusty Texas twang that gives the distorted guitars and Johnson's strained creaky voice a twinge approximating something southern. They're kind of like a more adult contemporary version of Archers of Loaf, although that comparison is probably way off. This album in particular is less crafted than others, as it was written and recorded practically on the spot. That spontaneity doesn't seem to hurt them, though, as the album feels fresh and more like an excellent live set. There's a certain buoyancy to the album as guitars squeal, impromptu hand claps slip in and out, but Johnson's trademark anthemic feel remains. If there's any album of theirs that convinces me I absolutely need to see these guys live it's this one. Like most of their albums, the mood is infectious. Grab a bottle of Bud and enjoy.

Fort Recovery

Love You Just the Same

One of my favorite song titles of all times, "Strahan Has Corralled the Freaks," is the centerpiece of this vaguely alt-country record. Actually, if there's a way to meld alt-country and emo, this would be it. I know that sounds gruesome, but it really comes out better than expected. Will Johnson, the voice and songwriter behind Centro-Matic has a great, scratchy voice and a terrific sense of making pop music that just cuts off enough of the edge as to avoid sentimentality, and pushes the schmaltz envelope without going over the edge. This latest album (2003) experiments a little more with instrumentation, but stays grounded in its American rock roots. You gotta love a guy who isn't afraid to write a song about a gap-toothed NFL player and then write an awesome, piano-laden love song and album closer like "Without You."

Navigational

As the album starts, the homemade recording and finger-plucked acoustic guitar made my eyebrows perk up at the GBV vibe. It then settles into a mellow vibe of understated, folksy alt-rock. While there is an occasional upbeat track that will recall GBV, most of the tunes here are pretty slow and heartfelt. I tend to like Will Johnson when his stuff is a little less subdued and a little more soaring, but this collection of little songs is satisfactory for what it is. I would probably check out Love You Just the Same or All the Falsest Hearts Can Try if you're interested in Centro-Matic, but this is a good album to pick up if you want to see the softer, buzzier side of Mr. Johnson.