COYOTE BONES Issue #32

Gentleman on the Rocks

By Laura Leebove
Published: June 1st, 2007 | 12:00am

Bathrooms, art museums, and basements — all uncommon locations to record an album, but they seemed to work for Coyote Bones’ David Matysiak and Mason Brown. Formerly of Atlanta-based Jet by Day, Matysiak and Brown traveled around the country, stopping to visit friends — like Jacob Thiele of the Faint, Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink of Azure Ray, and more than half of Tilly and the Wall — who helped them record a mixtape of tracks for Coyote Bones’ first album, Gentleman on the Rocks.

Just like a mixtape, Gentleman is more a collection of songs than a flowing album, which, in this case, isn’t a bad thing. Many of the 12 tracks are driven by acoustic guitars and airy, layered vocals about love, drinking, and loneliness. But while many of the songs have a similar style, the album doesn’t feel boring nor repetitive.

Some tracks, however, do bring in totally new elements like haunting electronic beats in “Buzzing Below,” high-powered synthesizers and distorted guitars in “Your War,” and a barking dog in “Expire in Style.” Other standout tracks are “39 Forever,” with the album’s catchiest guitar hook, and “Living Breathing Demons,” with a full-blown band and Fink on trumpet.

Gentleman is impressive for the number of contributors (nearly 15) and the time it took to put together (more than two years). Matysiak and Brown and their all-star cast of friends prove that the best albums don’t always have to be recorded in a studio.