Matt Boudreau’s new album Armageddon and the year 2020 have a lot in common: they both deal in endings. But while 2020 is full of more bleakness than opportunity, Armageddon leaves us with the comforting feeling that not all endings are bad, and many give way to new beginnings.
Following Boudreau’s first full-length release, Geoland, which dropped nearly two years ago, he decided to take a more mellow and gloomy approach to Armageddon. Citing influences like Mac Demarco, Boy Pablo and Beach House, Boudreau maintains an indie, lo-fi, lazy, hazy, beachy sound throughout the length of the release.
“I always felt inspired by anything revolving around the apocalypse,” says Boudreau. “Anything surreal or supernatural as well has always has been a common theme in my interests. I’m a big fan of sci-fi but I’m also a big fan of romantic stuff.”
And on the theme of romance, some of his inspiration was actually drawn directly from the movie P.S. I Love You.
“There is a scene where Gerald Butler tells Hillary Swank that when you kiss someone you love for the first time it feels like the end of your life as you know it. I always liked that way of seeing romance and romantic adventures as chapters or eras in your life.”
And each day’s end is the termination of its own 24-hour world, too; with each sunset is an ending and each sunrise, a beginning.
The album’s first single, “Patio,” embodies Boudreau’s relaxed summer energy. With lyrics that sing of a long-awaited sunset and glass of wine in good company, the track paints a romantic picture for listeners. “[It] was inspired by a long period of time before I moved from Moncton to my home on the Chaleur Bay,” explains Boudreau.
Moving from Geoland to Armageddon, Boudreau also decided to lean more heavily into his use of synthesizers. And while most of the tracks are high in synth, a few tracks maintain a more folky sound, including “Ovni” and the album’s title track, “Armageddon.” And if the end of the world really does sound and feel as calm as “Armageddon,” perhaps it won’t be as bad as it seems.
Kicking the dial in the opposite direction, however, is “MissingNo.” As the most synth-heavy and upbeat track on the album, it acts the dance party Boudreau is throwing for us as a last hurrah before the meltdown. Carrying an 80s synth-pop vibe, “MissingNo” mixes the sadness of saying goodbye with the adrenalin of knowingly living out your last hours.
Not yet a month after the album’s release, Boudreau states he already has ideas swimming in his head for his third and even fourth album. Fans: stay tuned!