San Diego Troubadour says "Joy of Life" sounds like this:
The heart-on-sleeve songs of life and love, encompassing the Decemberists-meets-Pogues pastiche of hyper-vaudevillian tableaus and indie-rock joyriding, are positively bristling with well-recorded and mastered instrumentation (the vibes and violin on "Old Mistakes" are a gas). And you'll hear Curreri's refined, restrained vocals anchoring tight group harmonies on the title track, "Hope for the Future" and "I'll Be Here."
Fans who have followed Matt's career since How to Play... might wish there was more of the unschooled abandon of his earlier work - especially his frenetic, grass-blade-between-thumbs singing - still present in songs like "Dirty Stayout" and "Happy When I'm Gone." However, if you can find your way past the evolved polish, or you're just getting on board with this particular release, you will be wildly rewarded.
The Exfriends are "one of San Diego's best indie bands" according to the SD Union Tribune (April 2008). San Diego all-star members most recently include Matt Curreri, Joanie Mendenhall, Tyler Ward, Ray Suen & Kevin Gossett.
In the summer of 2008, The Exfriends released Joy of Life, a new 12 song album on City Salvage Records, Brooklyn.
In 2006, the Exfriends released "Exercise Music for the Lonely" (City Salvage Records) and toured the US east coast and England. Pete Hamilton was the bassist on this album.
In 2003, Matt Curreri & Joanie Mendenhall moved from New York City to the fabled origins of skateboarding and surfing, North County San Diego (Encinitas, Cardiff, and now Carlsbad). Matt released "How to Play the Songs of Matt Curreri" (City Salvage Records) to critical acclaim nationwide.
Yuma is dead as always. The only thing happening here is a venue called Open Aired other than that there isnt much to do. So what's in store for the Matt Curreri and The Ex-Friends?
Hey guys - great stuff on Wednesday. You are undoubtedly my favorite San Diego band.
Every time I see a show, I'm so taken by the entire package...writing, arranging, performance, and tons of fun-having. Though it makes me extremely jealous of all the collective skills on the one hand, I still walk away with a big grin.
I hope you continue dishing out the lyrical whimsy and musical subversiveness that I love so for years to come. Cheers!
