The New Amsterdams - At The Foot Of My Rival

Curb Appeal/ Artic Rodeo . release date: 25-09-07 (US) | 05-09-08 (EU) . written by Oliver

I clearly renember when The Get Up Kids released "Something To Write Home About" in 2000 on Vagrant records. The record just impressed everyone who was into emotional Rock music. Epitaph and Universal music bought the release from Vagrant and re-released it on their label again. You might guess now, how sucsessful that album was. When Interscope asked Matt to sign in 2002 he did not hesitated long. The major label just released another two great albums by the Get Up Kids. But when Matt got older he was not into touring and leaving family any more. When he found The New Amsterdams as a solo-project in 2000 he already felt the love for silent accoustic songs but he did not expected him to quit GUK and make The New Amsterdams his new band. Matt released his debut "Never You Mind" on Vagrant Records in January of 2000. And altough he played every instrument on his own, the record did not turned out well. In my opinion the record was only boring and it had nothing to do with the great songwriting and infectious blend of music, that I knew from his former band. I was sick of those lame country songs with harmonica. Since then I really lost touch with The New Amsterdams. I heard a few songs over the years, but they did not inspired me to order an album. Now, in 2008, I just received The New Amsterdams´ newest release, called "At The Foot Of My Rival". Surprisingly I just recently heard a new song from the album, called "Elenor". The track was so fantastic and it reminded me very much to "Something To Write Home About". Matt released the new Amstedams record on Curb Appeal Records, a label that is run by former Get Up Kids member Jim Suptic.On "At The Foot Of My Rival" Matt shows his full strenght as a songwriter again. He finally woke up from the dead and has started to write amazing songs again. "At The Foot.." contains 14 charming and romantic tunes, that really got infected very much by the Get Up Kids release from 2000. I really cannot list my favourite tracks on the new record. Every song has his very own aura and charme. The songs lyrically talk about personal feelings and experiences Matt has made. On "Story Like A Scar" (# 10) Matt sings about a long time friend, that he shared a lot of great moments with but he suddenly disappeared out of his life. Well I´ll guess, we all know that situation. I like the fact, that the songs have turned out very individual. And so you find drastic contrasts on "At The Foot..": "Wait", which is song number 2 sounds a lot like a song taken from the "Something To Write Home About" release. Matt has set the focus on bloomy guitars here, while there are a plenty of other tracks, that sound so different and new. The most outstanding one is called "Lay On The Rails" - a song with kind of african bush drums. This song is spreading a real pleasant feeling and it even reminds me a bit to the german soccer world mastership song, that was based on bush drums as well. On "Fortunate Fools" you find very silent guitars, that gently flatter around Matt´s voice. To me it is crystal clear: The new record is the very best material, created by Matt Prior since 2000. Highly recommended.

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Rank: 5 out of 5

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