Matt Mays — When The Angels Make Contact

Mays' third album is definitely his most eclectic, and certainly the most understated. Those looking for more of what was on last year's Matt Mays & El Torpedo won't find much in that vein here, with "850 Commando" coming the closest to being an all-out rock tune. The title track/lead single features a decent rap interlude by Buck 65, while there are also a handful of instrumentals, the best being the organ-infused and more percussive "The Dartmouth Soundsystem." Many of the songs are acoustic-based, but use effects and electronic elements to produce a somewhat ambient effect. When The Angels Make Contact was supposed to be the soundtrack of a movie that isn't finished. While it would probably work well in that context, it falls short of expectations as a cohesive, stand-alone album.

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