Customer Reviews
brilliant - what emo should be - By: T. Strudley, 31 Aug 2006 
I've had this album for about a year now, & i still love it to bits. The first emo album i ever brought, & probally the best, so i can heartily recomend it to anyone who likes loud, melodic music. Prior to buying this I'd been having problems finding something I wanted to listen to due to the fact that as rock get heavier, it tends to lose out on melody: finein small doeses, grating over the course of an album. Stories & alibis is the solution-beautiful soaring melodies (highlights playing for keeps, promises & the greatest fall) whilst still being fast & loud. The layering of guitar is very impressive, as are the "spasms" (i can think of no other word, i u can please tell me)in the middle of some choruses. If your not accustomed to this type of this music some of the lines will grate(eg "take this broken heart & make it right" which wants you want 2 yell "STOP WHINING") but grit your teeth & you''ll be ignoring it by the 2nd or 3rd listen, swept away by the pure quality of the musics. All the songs are good, though some like tiger lilly (the accoustic track) & stay tonight are slow growers.
Allin all an excellent album, how emo music should be.
too emo for its own good - By: sean paul mccann, 23 May 2006 
if you were trappedin a padded cell & were screaming for help but nothing was happening,you'd be pretty frustrated i would imagine,well that is the lifelike equal to this album,its just frustrating & etchedin a formula that although i can take it or leave it,matchbook romance are more than comfortable with,this is emoin every sense of the word.
i bought this album after reading a reviewin a magazine that hyped them up like a god on a pedestal so i leapt to the music shop & ripped it off the counter & on first listen was happy enough although i did wonder where the metal was,then i accepted that it was emo & found that it wasnt the bestin terms of song structure,lyrical content & even passion or conviction.
of course there are some decent songs on here,hence the three star rating,certainly this is better than bands like roses are red,hawthorne heights who are terrible & so on,songs like your stories,my alibis are promising,playing for keeps is strong as well & tiger lily but someone the weakness' of the band edge to the foreground & the reality that they aint that special dawns on you,if you are happy enough sittingin your room huggging your pillow & weeping for a lost love then this will do the job im sure
your new favourite band - By: Mr. Stephen J. Burton, 01 Apr 2006 What can I say I am sooooooooo totally blown away by this album , every song is so emotional & is heart-breaking to listen to especially the song 'promise' which has such amazing lyrics , tiger lily is a great acoustic song with is really sad to listen to but also great & finally this is my favourite song & that is lovers & liars which brought a tear to my eye , I cant believe a band could produce such amazing songs everyone should know about this band they are truly something special.
Unreal, Amazing, Jaw dropping, Fantastic BUY IT - By: Forgive Is Forget fan, 22 Sep 2005 When I was first given this album by a mate I thought little of it, assuming it was your run of the mill "emo" album. I have never been more wrong! This album is BY FAR the best album I have ever heard, everyone who gets to hear this album instantly fallsin love with it. The subtle melodies will appeal to those who like the pop-ier side of this genre whilst the brutal crescendos of layers of vocals will mesmerize those who enjoy the heavier style. However, as with all great albums it's the little things that make this SUCH a phenomenal album, the over-riff here, the perfectly timed drum fill there. It's these little things that create the striking & stunning aural assault that is MATCHBOOK ROMANCE. The only negative thing I can say is that it is a tragedy that these guys aren't appreciated enough, buy this album & hopefully, one day, these guys will get the recognition they deserve.
Compact EMOtion - By: Mr. M. Handscombe, 11 Jan 2005 This is probably one of my top 5 emo albums that I own. Everytrack just makes you think about something. Some tracks quiet, some average & some heavyish. If I am short on time & I don't listen to the whole album, I listen to my 3 faves:
. Promise
. Tiger Lily
. Stay Tonight
Promise was the track that made me like this band, I heard it once on 'Scuzz' & I am immediatly loved it. Just listen to the lyrics
Tiger Lily is a very soft ballad, acoustic kinda song. It's a perfect song for the broken-hearted.
Stay Tonight. I don't really know where to descripe it. Other than pure brilliance.
Overall, this album is FANTASTIC. Buy it!!!
