The Wake

When I first got this CD, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. “Is this a Christian album?” I asked my friend. It had all the signs: the word “Pray” was in the title, the artist is shown on the cover in a standard, “I’m standing on the shores of some water with my arms opened up towards the sky” pose, and there were songs with titles like, “Heaven Knows” and “I Will Wait.” After listening to this record several times through, I’m only about 95 percent sure it’s a religious album, but I’m 100 percent sure that it sucks.

Nothing could have prepared me for these alarmingly horrendous lyrics, whimpering vocals, and Bible-camp counselor guitar playing. It takes less than 30 seconds into the album, on the title track “Hopin’ and Prayin,’” for Damico to use the ol’ “fork in the road” analogy, as he “tries to find his peace of mind… in this crazy time.” On the second song, “Harmony,” he assures, “If you’ll be the melody/I’ll be your harmony.”

No thanks, Matt. I’d rather have a signed letter of your resignation from making music. Despite the crafty use of some shakers, tambourines, and bongos, it’s just not quite enough to distract from the pitiful music at hand. It pains me, as I would have loved to have written a much more favorable review for this U of M alum. But hey, don’t take my word for it, go to myspace.com/matthewdamico and check it out for yourselves.