Music review by Jessica Frey

Alternative rock band, the Matchstick Skeletons, have been working hard lately and have released a two song EP for our enjoyment.  The EP, The Unknown-How Unplugged, features live studio recordings of “I’m the Dog” and “Already Down.”

“In a world that has accepted or ignored that plenty of bands play to pre-recorded tracks, it’s more important than ever to show you can just get in a room and play your bloody instruments,” says Mannas. “It’s the closest thing to magic that exists on this planet.”

The world would have had a chance to check out the Matchstick Skeletons this year on their tour with the Glorious Sons. After tour dates were canceled due to the 2020 pandemic, Neu Mannas, the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist for the band, found he had some time on his hands. He went out to the Mojave desert and filmed a music video for “Already Down” from the band’s 2019 EP The Know-How.  You can watch the new video yourself.

“I’m the Dog” is a beautiful stripped down rendition of the song featuring a three part harmony and one guitar.  The band lets their voices do most of the work and this song pulls you into the studio with them as though they are singing directly to you.  This song is insanely intimate.

“Already Down” is a passionate and emotional song, so, when the band stripped it down further, the depth of emotion behind the voice is amplified.  While the song is stripped down, the selective use of the guitar, keyboards, maracas and tambourine are the perfect mix keeping this song low key and intimate.

It’s incredibly difficult to strip down a good song and make it even better.  Doing so takes powerful know how and mad skills!  The Matchstick Skeletons have both. I fully expect we will see much more from the Matchstick Skeletons in the post-pandemic future!

 You can watch the respective in-studio acoustic videos here: “I’m the Dog” / “Already Down.”

-Jessica