Jeff Martin - The First Joke & Other Matters (ft. Steve Padin) Review

From the ashes of This Day & Age, from the heart of one who left the industry to get a "real job," and from the soul of a drummer with something to say comes The First Joke & Other Matters by Jeff Martin and Steve Padin. The guitarist and drummer collaborate on a project that is less Outkast than it is Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, but the back and forth dichotomy on the release is something the blends together without distraction.

Kicking off with "Page in Book," hearing Martin's vocals after years without anything new is a welcome sound. He effortlessly brings the charming and mellifluousness that made The Bell and the Hammer so memorable and this song is just another beautiful sounding page in his career. I am being completely candid when I say that I feel like I could have a meaningful relationship with his voice with how it kicks in on this song.

If unaware of how the album is set up, the next song will throw you off, as it is Steve Padin doing the vocals and music. As far as I know, this is his first we've heard him singing on an album, and he doesn't disappoint. A stark difference to Martin's simplistic vocal-driven atmospheric performance, Padin balances a more experimental electronic-tinged sound that truly displays his versatility as a musician....full text The departure of the band This Day & Age back in 2006 left a void the size of the Bermuda Triangle. When an artist releases their best work (see: The Bell and The Hammer), then irreverently severe ties, it leaves a permanent blotch in the fan’s heart. The wonderful thing about modern-day music is that the album is still just as good as the first moments of listening; not a fading facade left as just a memory. Nonetheless, This Day & Age has not fully returned, but two former members of the band, Jeff Martin (vocalist/guitarist) and Steven Padin (drums) decided to collaborate songwriting ideas. The outcome is expressed in their recently released LP The First Joke and Other Matters.

Using minimalist symphonic ideals fused with wonderfully simple acoustic arrange­ments circa Sufjan Stevens’ Seven Swans, Jeff Martin and Steven Padin brilliantly dis­play their veteran songwriting abilities. During the first track “Page in Book”, it’s immedi­ately apparent how much the world of music was missing during Jeff’s departure from contemporary music. The melodies are an oxy-moronic mixture of atmospheric and complex yet lovably simple. That is a nod to the production as well as the musicianship. His voice is welcome and comforting like a father telling a bed-time story to his children....full text 01. Page In Book
02. Perelandra
03. In This Story
04. Farewell, The Company
05. Forrest (Forest)
06. Winston Was Here
07. Look Me Listen, Listen Me Look
08. Smile, Future
09. Note to Friends
10. Runway...full text