Tag: Jess & Matt

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Songs From The Village” – Jess + Matt

The X Factor Australia is becoming a distant memory and I’ve forgotten most of the acts that graced its stage over the years. But not Jess + Matt, who charmed me with their beautiful harmonies, their folky sound, and the romance of their real-life relationship. Something special happens when people in love make music together and that goes double when they’ve got some serious music taste. Over the years they’ve released covers and originals, which didn’t all hit the mark for me. Songs From The Village is the album I’ve been waiting for them to make, a celebration of classic folk music.

This album starts so strong with a jubilant version of “The Times They Are A-Changing.” Their take on “The Boxer,” the second track is another stunner. It builds to an epic vocal crescendo that makes your heart soar. The danger with bringing us so many folk songs though is that the music can become background. It’s admittedly a very gentle record, and there are a few slow spots. However, whenever it starts getting a bit sleepy, Jess + Matt deliver a knockout. Their rollicking version of “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” hits all the right notes. “Leaving on a Jet Plane” is so special. Jess + Matt are at their best when they get to play off against one another as they do here. It’s so beautiful and believable. Their version of “Both Sides Now” is exquisite.

Jess + Matt are such talented vocalists with an innate musical sensibility. They clearly have fantastic music taste and they know what will work well for their voices. They’re also such natural storytellers, ensuring their takes on songs from Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, and other American folk pioneers don’t feel like pale imitations. I had high expectations for this release. While I wasn’t wowed by every song, there’s plenty here to get excited about.

Songs From The Village is in stores now. Follow Jess + Matt on Facebook to learn about their pop-up appearances promoting the album.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Getting to the Bare Bones” of Jess + Matt’s “Bones”

Jess + Matt were my favourite act from last year’s X Factor. In fact, they might be my favourite act from the X Factor, period. I fell hard for their sublime harmonies, folk sensibility, and their genuine love story.

However, I’m not so enamoured with their latest single, the first original they’ve released since their stint on the show “Bones.” The song was co-written with DNA, the duo behind hits from The Veronicas, Dami Im, and Delta Goodrem. It sounds fresh and commercial, and like nothing I’d have imagined Jess + Matt would produce. And perhaps that’s the problem.

I first stumbled upon this song on Spotify. I didn’t get it at all. Then I played the acoustic version you can find there, and the penny dropped. Suddenly the lyrics which reflect on the feelings of new love came to the fore, rather than the production. Suddenly it seemed weightier than I’d originally imagined.

I appreciate that Jess + Matt are a duo experimenting with their sound and trying to find their place in the music industry post-reality fame. However, I just hope they don’t get too far away from what made them special in an attempt to achieve commercial success.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Jess & Matt” – Jess & Matt

While I’m an avid viewer of The X Factor, I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to listen to any of the winner’s albums. They typically have little more than the performances on the show recut, and while I’ve enjoyed those at the time, I’ve rarely been in a hurry to hear them again. But this year we had Jess & Matt, an act that is so special that when I was sent a streaming copy of their self-titled debut album, I couldn’t wait to hit play.

Yes, this largely follows the same formula of other post-X Factor releases. We get the act in a studio to recreate what they did in the show just in time for a Christmas release. But the creativity of Matt & Jess, and mentor Guy Sebastian, makes this a little more than just an album of covers. Anyone who’s seen the show will know how under Guy’s guidance, the duo put their stamp on classic songs like “Dancing in the Dark,” “Heart of Glass,” and “You’re the One That I Want,” as well as newer tracks like “Lay Me Down” and “Do You Remember.”

The visuals were significant component of those performances, whether it was watching elaborate staging from Square Division or simply the couple gazing into one another’s eyes. That’s gone when you listen to the album, but nothing can take away the way these two voices harmonise so beautifully. Separately they’re already exceptional, but together, sublime. When we first heard the single “Nothing Matters” my husband and I felt Jess & Matt deserved a better song, and it still stands out as the weakest track on this album. But to sweeten the deal there’s also exceptional covers of two songs not performed on the show “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” and “Sister Golden Hair.”

Given that this is the post-X Factor release, it’s probably only going to reach the ears of those who only admired Jess & Matt on the show. But it deserves to be heard much more widely than that. I imagine everyone from the cool kids who listen to acoustic covers on Spotify to my parents really digging what Jess & Matt do. I urge you to take a chance on this album, because it’s much more than simply a snapshot of time spent on a reality TV show.