As a change of pace from his last year’s album, Once Upon a Hell of a Time, Halifax’s Matt Mays has slowed things down with his latest release. Twice Upon a Hell of a Time revisits the sounds of its predecessor, but in full acoustic.
From tracks that were already so full of emotional and passionate poetry, Mays has managed to bring those sentiments even further towards the forefront in their re-released form. Described as a “party-rock record for the brokenhearted,” Twice Upon a Hell of a Time keeps the upbeat nature of its predecessor but presents itself with fewer distracting layers.
With much softer sounds, each instrument on the recordings is able to shine through and the vocals rise above everything else. This makes the meanings behind the lyrics in each track much easier to detect, allowing listeners to really dig in to the emotions that went into their making.
Though most tracks keep the indie feel of Once Upon a Hell of a Time, the overall feel of the album leans more towards folk and leaves the rock ‘n’ roll behind.
“Dark Promises” in particular takes on a sound that is much more folky than its original version. Loud indie guitar chords and vocals turn into soft finger plucking and gentle violin and vocals, reminiscent of bands like Iron & Wine and vintage Bon Iver.
Other tracks that stand out for their notably stripped back quality are “Station out of Range” and “Never Say Never.” The former goes from a heavy focus on drums and loud guitar riffs to acoustic rhythms with bits vocal and harmonica backing, and the latter goes from a fast-paced rock anthem to a slowed, heartfelt and bare-bones piano ballad.
One track, however, that is best served in its upbeat and lively form is “NYC Girls.” Even its acoustic version keeps a fairly fast beat, and it also features bouncy and uplifting piano as well as a choral backing. And while these features suit the acoustic version nicely, the full, electric, drum-heavy sound of the original hits the eardrums with just the right amount of energy for the sentiments of the track.
Where Once Upon a Hell of a Time pumps you up for the road ahead, Twice Upon a Hell of a Time calms you down after a long day. Both, however, serve listeners a healthy dose of life reflection.
If you’d like to catch Matt Mays performing these stripped-back versions of his tracks, you can catch him in Ontario or Alberta on the following dates:
02.08.19 – Paris, ON @ Dominion Telegraph
02.09.19 – Bayfield, ON @ Old Town Hall
02.10.19 – Hamilton, ON @ Hamilton Public Library
02.14.19 – Huntsville, ON @ Algonquin Theatre
02.15.19 – Peterborough, ON @ Market Hall
02.16.19 – Burnstown, ON @ Neat Café
02.22-23.19 – Calgary, AB @ Block Heater