Released 20 years ago
When the Angels Make Contact
Matt Mays · 2006
64 min · 18 tracks · indie rock
Melodic indie rock intertwines heartfelt narratives with layered instrumentation, creating an expansive yet intimate listening experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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When the Angels Make Contact — This title track encapsulates the album's themes of introspection and connection, blending lyrical depth with a haunting melody that lingers long after the song ends.
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Heroine — In this track, Mays dives into complex emotions surrounding love and loss, using vivid imagery and raw vocals that draw listeners into an intimate narrative.
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Spoonful of Sugar — With its infectious energy and catchy hooks, this song balances darker lyrical themes with an upbeat sound, highlighting Mays' ability to blend mood and melody seamlessly.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends personal storytelling with layered sounds, creating an engaging yet uneven listening experience.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Several tracks incorporate layered instrumentation, with guitars and keyboards weaving together to create a rich soundscape.
- The lyrics often reflect personal narratives, with a focus on introspection and emotional themes that unfold gradually across the tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- intimate narratives for reflective moments
- wave-like pacing with varied intensity
- heartfelt melodies for quiet evenings
- engaging storytelling across multiple listens
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer standalone tracks only
Where this album fits
- Career context
- When the Angels Make Contact, released in 2006, marked Matt Mays' transition from his earlier work with the band Matt Mays & El Torpedo to a more personal and introspective sound. This album followed his self-titled debut in 2005, showcasing his growth as a solo artist and solidifying his presence in the Canadian music scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The War on Drugs· Father John Misty· Band of Horses
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Intro 0:48
- 2 The Past 4:25
- 3 When the Angels Make Contact 4:13
- 4 1 for the Motor 3:36
- 5 Spoonful of Sugar 7:20
- 6 Never Saw It Comin' 3:10
- 7 Officer Downe 1:41
- 8 Heroine 3:12
- 9 850 Commando 5:11
- 10 The Dartmouth Soundsystem 2:07
- 11 Midnight Is the Time 4:15
- 12 You'll Never Come Back 3:01
- 13 The Highway Is a Scary Place 1:15
- 14 Under My Senses 4:07
- 15 When the Angels Make Contact (reprise) 1:15
- 16 Rough N' Tumble Come Down 4:14
- 17 J.J.'s Theme 4:03
- 18 Mornin' Sun 6:16
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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