"Skint & Demoralised... What a great name!" John Motson (Legend)
"We know everything's a bit shit right now, but Wakefield's most articulate (and can we say handsome?) street poet finds the romance beneath the realism. Blending witty observations with northern soul, he'll have you feeling better in no time." NME Magazine (08.04.09)
"Matt Abbott is bringing his gospel to the masses, from Wakefield to the World! Putting his words of wisdom and experience over some impressive Northern Soul stylings, Skint and Demoralised are the words, for the words, for the people." Sheffield Union
"Latter-day Northern Soul meets zeitgeist poetry from a Yorkshire teenager who shows ace potential." Steve Lamacq (Radio 1)
"In the pantheon of those who spout spoken words about life 'neath the Pennines, Wakefield's Matt Abbott, aka. Skint & Demoralised, will undoubtedly be shoved behind the brollies of John Cooper Clarke and Jon McClure. Yet, as the bras hurtling stage-wards confirm, the fella's spitting something sweeter than punk and politics. Reciting his diary-like confessions to celebrate the launch of his debut single 'The Thrill of Thirty Seconds', it seems the town has turned out in support. They've sussed he's onto something special, and it's hard not to grin along."
Camille Augarde (NME Live Review, 17.11.08)
"Glorious Northern Soul from the [20-year-old] Wakefield native Matt Abbott who has been working with The Dap-Kings on his debut album." MusicWeek
"...I'm more intrigued by the potential of Skint & Demoralised, whose May-scheduled debut 'Love, And Other Catastrophes...', recorded with retro-soul specialists The Dap-Kings, promises a Streets-style blend of poetry and grooves." Andy Gill (The Independent)
"A match made in musical heaven...a fab slab of Northern Soul-meets-duck-and-dive-prolixity." Dan Cairns (The Times)
"Abbott and his daft-alias studio sidekick, who only released their first single, 'The Thrill of Thirty Seconds', last November, have come up with a series of uncannily memorable, chirpy, cheeky, loveable sensitive-geezer soul-rap ditties for those who believe that, at 33, Just Jack is just too old to convince as a poet-ruffian, who wish Alex Turner would speak not croak, or who long for a British Eminem only without the psychopathic, homicidal tendencies."
Paul Lester (The Guardian)
"Live, the lanky, handsome Abbott oozed easy charm on songs backed by clattering rock and shuffling beats ... reminiscent of early The Streets, with nods to Squeeze, The Jam and Northern Soul." 4* out of 5
Lisa Verrico (The Times, Live Review 26.02.09)
SKINT & DEMORALISED is a fusion of spoken word performance poetry and Northern Soul-inspired grooves that stems from a musical collaboration between 20-year-old Wakefield wordsmith Matt Abbott and mysterious Sheffield songwriter/producer MiNI dOG.
The pair started writing together in May 2007, and by November they'd been played by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 1. Their demos were made available for free download, and in March 2008 they'd clocked-up just short of 10,000 when they signed a deal with Mercury Records.
June 2008 saw them fly to New York City to record with Amy Winehouse's studio session band and legendary soul outfit The Dap-Kings at The Daptone Studios in Brooklyn. Recording finished at RAK Studios in London for their debut album 'Love, And Other Catastrophes'.
Their debut release 'The Thrill of Thirty Seconds' on 17th November sold all 500 copies of the signed 7" vinyl on pre-order and their second single 'This Song Is Definitely Not About You' is out now.
The next single is called 'Red Lipstick' and it's out on 13th July. The debut album, 'Love, And Other Catastrophes' is due for release on 5th October and pre-order links are in the blog. Keep checking for regular blogs, videos, pictures, free downloads and live dates.
Hahah shameless plug! But come to Belfast and i'll buy YOUU a drink - a Sailor Jerry of coursee. You wont regret itt, belfast is the best city in the world and i rule. Ill buy it of cooursee because im nice and its fantastic, obviously. But remember - BELFAST GIG. deal? xxxx
:DDDDDDDDDDd well doneeee i was like up in the lakes on a trip with my old school and radio one came on and I knew I recognised this song that came on.. and I was singing.. and singing.. then I was like OMFGGGG S&D! then it came on again, and i was like OMGOMG :D
He is starting to take on resemblance to a notorious dictator, just needs the moustache. The devil in another disguise perhaps? Increase the peace brother.
I've added the song onto my profile......it's worthy of that grand placement. Don't let me down at latitude otherwise I will have to sob with bottles of budwiser
Haha most certainlyy, theres nothin like it after a hard night on the Sailor Jerry :) And im not tooo badd, broke my finger which suckks - nobody ever gives you sympathy for a broken fingerr! How are yoou? Youve had a hectic wee while, is Coleen Nolan as awesome as she seems? xxx
No joke here likee, me and my friend emma were lying on my sofa earlier nursing major hangovers, just mindin our own business like - watchin some loose women (obviously) when all of a sudden your wee song comes on. It should absolutely be called the hangover miracle cure, it had us dancing around the living room like eejits in no timmee! So i guess i just wanted to say thankss :) you rule. xxxxxxxx
Alright man, seems like you've had a pretty hectic day today. I saw Loose Women earlier and it even seemed weird to me to see you on TV so i've no idea what it was like for you seeing yourself! Let us know if you ever get time off for a wine night in Wakefield.
I've actually had "redlipstick" on repeat all afternoon after hearing it on loose women this lunchtime. Oh my goodness, its great. And you seemed like a nice guy too, which makes it all the more better :) I hear the single comes out on monday, so i'm gutted i wont have it on my ipod for my holiday when i go on sunday, but i'll be sure to download it friday when i get home so i'll get to number one- which i'm sure it will! :) I can't believe i've not heard of you before! Let me no if you do any gigs in the midlands :) Mabye comment back if you've got time too :)
I actually haven't talked to you in... at least a year. WHAT HAPPENED? I miss it. How've you been? I was talking to my friend today and she said she saw you on loose women, which prompted me to send you this comment. How was Loose Women for you? Sadly, I missed it :/ Bar that, what have you been up to lately?
