Pictures of Matchstick Men cover

Pictures of Matchstick Men

Status Quo · 1995

70 min · 20 tracks · hard rock

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

42 /100
Lowland
Higher than 1% of albums we've rated

The album showcases a blend of catchy melodies and varied tempos but lacks strong cohesion across its length.

What we noticed

  • Several tracks incorporate layered harmonies and call-and-response vocals, creating a dynamic interplay between the singers.
  • The album includes both upbeat tracks and slower ballads, with the pacing shifting noticeably between songs like 'Ice In The Sun' and 'Are You Growing Tired Of My Love'.
  • Two tracks, 'Railroad (Part 1)' and 'Railroad (Part 2)', are presented as a continuous piece, emphasizing a thematic connection.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
4/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Ice in the Sun 2:12
  • 2 Lakky Lady 3:07
  • 3 Is It Really Me 2:42
  • 4 Gerundula 3:19
  • 5 Neighbour Neighbour 2:44
  • 6 Paradise Flat 3:13
  • 7 Pictures of Matchstick Men 3:09
  • 8 Mean Girl 3:54
  • 9 Josie 3:33
  • 10 Good Thinking Batman 3:25
  • 11 Lazy Poker Blues 3:20
  • 12 Are You Growing Tired of My Love 3:36
  • 13 Antique Angelina 3:21
  • 14 Umleitung 7:11
  • 15 Something's Going on in My Head 4:43
  • 16 Shy Fly 3:46
  • 17 Little Miss Nothing 2:54
  • 18 Sunny Cellophane Skies 2:42
  • 19 The Clown 3:22
  • 20 Nothing at All 3:50

Reference: MusicBrainz