Friday is finally the day for the much-anticipated release from NJ-based indie rock outfit Quiz Show – involving members of legendary DC alternative rock band Shudder To Think, Guided By Voices and The Dambuilders – present their eponymous debut album, released via Montclair, NJ-based Magic Door Record Label. Arguably one of the best albums released so far this year, there is much fun to be had here and a lot of raw angst and free expression. Friday is nearly here, so let’s go!
Today we have the pleasure of presenting you two powerhouse tracks – ‘Almost Famous’ and ‘Sound of Kissing’. Recall that we earlier previewed the tracks ‘Dime A Dozen’ and ‘What If?‘.
[bandcamp width=400 height=472 album=2012161161 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=small]
This electrifying collection of 12 tracks involves Shudder To Think‘s Chris Matthews and Jesse Krakow, together with drummer Kevin March (Guided By Voices, The Dambuilders). Earlier, bassist Jesse Krakow had taken over from the original bassist Frank Gibbons and, more recently, Joe Billy has replaced Kevin March, whose drumming features throughout this album.
The ‘Quiz Show’ LP brings together the singles the band recorded with award-winning producer Ray Ketchem (Guided By Voices, Luna, Versus, Elk City, Gramercy Arms) between 2017 and 2020 at his Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, NJ. Ketchem also re-mastered these tracks for this release. Interesting fact: through this process, Matthews discovered that he enjoys singing as much as playing guitar.
Quiz Show songs are full of protest, friendship and frustration. Tapping the energy of punk rock with its loud guitars and driving rhythms, the vocals strive to capture the emotional fervour of punky garage rock. Pushing boundaries with rhythms, arrangements, chord structures and vocals that expand from straight-ahead power to music, they weave together different influences, including classic rock, prog and alternative, to create complex and beautiful in unexpected ways.
[bandcamp width=400 height=208 album=2012161161 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=small track=3564605166]
“This is our first album! Quiz Show has been making music since 2017 and put out most of the songs on this release as singles between 2017 and 2020. We are releasing them now after remixing and remastering all of the songs to freshen them up and so they can document the origin story of Quiz Show in a single package. This release also brings these songs under the amazing umbrella of the Magic Door record label,” says Chris Matthews.
“Quiz Show songs come together when ideas voiced through the guitars are set to rhythms constructed on the bass and drums. Lyrics come after the melodies, which themselves often emerge while Chris is driving around. These songs were created in the in-between spaces of complicated lives. We cherish this work and the feelings it describes. ‘Sound of Kissing’ was built this way and, like most of our songs, it uses lyrics to reflect a dissatisfaction with the limits on love, money, and time.”
As of March 17, the ‘Quiz Show’ album is available via Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where it can already be ordered directly from the band.
CREDITS
Written by Chris Matthews, Kevin March and Frank Gibbons
Chris Matthews – guitar, vocals
Kevin March – drums, vocals
Frank Gibbons – bass
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording (Montclair, NJ)
‘Quiz Show’ album cover art – ‘Moving Day’ by Renee LoBue
‘Sound of Kissing’ cover art – ‘Hey Moon’ by Renee LoBue
Cover design by Ray Ketchem
Follow, support and fan out over Quiz Show
Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify
Learn more about the Magic Door Label
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube
