Denton's Matthew And The Arrogant Sea just two days ago shared their new tune, "A Little Off", and it comes off the back of a duo of singles that have got people once again talking about this Texas-based outfit.

"A Little Off" invites you to immerse yourself in its soothing melodies and find solace in its tranquil allure.
The new single starts off with a charming vocal line that reminds me a lot of the slower tracks by The Beatles, and with the flute accompanying it throughout.
"A Little Off" has a charming smooth tone for the entirety of the run-time, and don't worry there isn't a sudden burst of energy at the end, it's simply four and a half minutes of pure bliss. "A Little Off" invites you to immerse yourself in its soothing melodies and find solace in its tranquil allure, so do be sure to give them a slice of your time, I'm sure it'll be worth it. —It’s All Indie.

Matthew and The Arrogant Sea, a favored entity of B-Side Guys, unveils a fresh sonic iteration in their new single ‘A Little Off.’ The track is a tender exploration of personal evolution, liberation, and the resilience it takes to let go of relationships that have outlived their purpose. Embellished with introspective lyrics, ‘A Little Off’ navigates the listener through an intimate journey towards self-acceptance, reflecting the band’s remarkable ability to convert complex emotions into compelling aural experiences. This new offering, teasing their forthcoming record ‘If You Find Yourself Floating Away,’ hints at a compelling evolution in the band’s sonic journey.

Hailing from Denton, TX, Matthew and The Arrogant Sea has been an influential force in the indie rock scene for over two decades. This single marks another milestone in the band’s impressive career, demonstrating a refreshing departure from their signature indie rock-folk-psych mix, reminiscent of the likes of Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s, Will Johnson, and Father John Misty. Matthew Gray’s haunting vocals weave the narrative of ‘A Little Off’ through a captivating melody, underlining the band’s capacity for engaging storytelling. The collective talents of Blake Vickrey, Tony Whitlock, Hagen Hauschild, and Pablo Alzate fortify the enchanting ambiance of the track, further solidifying Matthew and The Arrogant Sea’s reputation for mesmerizing live performances and innovative soundscapes. ‘A Little Off’ is a testament to their enduring relevance and creativity in the ever-evolving indie rock milieu

B-Side Guys

Matthew and The Arrogant Sea’s “Targets” Breaks Toxic Masculinity with Rock Nostalgia

Hailing from Denton, Texas, Matthew and The Arrogant Sea have released a stunning rock single, “Targets.” The emotionally charged track combines indie rock, folk, and psychedelic undertones to create a captivating sonic experience.

“Targets” is a powerful song that highlights Matthew Gray’s incredible vocals and dives into the complexities of toxic masculinity in relationships. It also emphasizes the significance of growth and self-discovery, inspiring listeners to ponder their experiences and embrace their authentic selves. The introspective lyrics are thought-provoking and encourage individuals to delve deeper into their personal archives, shedding the burden of past ignorance.

Recorded at Redwood Studios, the song boasts a polished production highlighting the band’s musical prowess. The instrumentation is expertly crafted, blending electric and acoustic elements seamlessly to create a rich sonic tapestry. The song’s nostalgic undertones evoke a sense of longing, perfectly complementing Gray’s introspective musings.

Matthew and The Arrogant Sea have built a reputation for electrifying live performances, and “Targets” captures the essence of their dynamic stage presence. It’s evident that the band has poured their heart and soul into this release, pushing the boundaries of their sound while maintaining their signature style. Honk Magazine-

A catchy rocker from Texas-based band Matthew And The Arrogant Sea, “Webs” enamors with a familiar, replay-inducing charm. The steady guitar-led playfulness conjures a Parklife-era Blur nostalgia, building into a satiating “I keep spinning my webs,” central hook. Approaching the two-minute turn, a buzzing synth character provides superb melodic accompaniment to the rock-minded composure, echoing a sort of throwback new-wave infectiousness.

In existence and touring since 2001, Matthew And The Arrogant Sea continue to impress with their hooky sound. The band was featured with previous tracks, 2018’s “Swedish Death Metal Cassette” and last year’s “D F K.” “Webs” engages from the get-go with swift guitars and lyrics that get “deep to the heart of everything.” The ensuing hook and synth-minded bridge further compel, cementing the track’s addictive status.

Obscure Sound

Melodic Mavericks: Embracing the Unconventional Charms of 'Targets' By Mathew and the Arrogant Sea

Band members of Mathew and the Arrogant Sea

Texas-based Mathew and the Arrogant Sea could take the world by storm with their latest single ‘Targets’. Mathew and The Arrogant Sea is an indie rock band comprised of four crew members: Mathew Gray (vocals), Blake Vickery (bass), Tony Whitlock (guitar), Hagen Hauschild (drums) and Pablo Alzate (guitar). Inferencing tunes of names like Pavement, Man Man and Neutral Milk to name a few, the band has performed on Good morningTexas and is soon putting their most impressive foot forward on Sep 1st for The 1st Dallas Texas at Kessler Theatre for their album release.

Dilating through the nomadic odes of channelling nostalgia with their electrifying performances, Mathew and the Arrogant Sea continue to surpass the barriers of creativity and sound.

"Targets" is a heartfelt song penned by Mathew during a challenging day job experience. The track explores overcoming toxic masculinity in various relationships and embracing our true selves without being burdened by past generations' ignorance. Crafted in a guitarist's home within 15 minutes, the song's creation was a magical experience. The entire album holds a special place in Mathew's heart, as it reflects his personal journey dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, and mental health. A profound dream about the vastness of the universe inspired him to focus on the bigger picture, helping him find balance in life. Mathew deeply hopes this album will offer hope and solace to those seeking reassurance in their own lives. Testing Melodies-

Introduced by a nuanced orchestral arrangement and Beatle-Esque harmonies, ‘A Little Off’ enters our musical life with elegance and soothing energy, sculpting an engaging and dreamy sonic outlook. In fact, listeners are bound to lose themselves among hypnotizing flutes, a poignant piano and relatable vocals, embracing Matthew and the Arrogant Sea‘s visionary artistic universe with firm belief.
The creative journey will be even more rewarding towards the end of the song, with ‘A Little Off’ steadily building up to a full-band finale, so rich, kaleidoscopic and incredibly beautiful. Drums and saturated guitars enter the track with charisma and fierceness. It is a short burst, but a meaningful one.
Emerging from Denton, US, Matthew and the Arrogant Sea could be described as an indie band, although eventually, they end up becoming much more. Drawing from a wide pool of influences (among which one can find the mighty Modest Mouse), the group then proceed to build their own eclectic world. And we are here for it.
Taken from the band’s upcoming album, ‘If You Find Yourself Floating Away’, ‘A Little Off’ explores meaningful and challenging lyricism. As Matthew and the Arrogant Sea explain: “It delicately weaves together the threads of personal growth, courage, and liberation. We wanted the song to explore the profound beauty of shedding relationships that no longer serve us, while fearlessly embracing the unknown.” Mesmerized Magazine
Matthew And The Arrogant Sea did something unusual with its song “dfk”
(perhaps from the opening words of “Dumb fuck kids”) by writing a melancholic and beautiful psychedelic folk pop song that turns generational bravado on its head. You see too many people having really idiotic discussions about what generation is best or worst and why when it doesn’t matter. Different social, economic and political forces are at play at all times and putting anyone on a pedestal or self-aggrandizing or any of it is just another effort at self-defeat or blowing up someone’s ego for your own selfish purposes. But in “D F K” at least the self-critique is one that seems regretful and empathetic. And in that mix is a level of self-reflection that keeps it from slipping into maudlin self-pity. When older people talk about the mayhem young people get up to and an impatience with seeming and too often actual lack of action even when such is absolutely called for without only following official channels and established methods for doing so. There is an admission at a little jealousy at how clever someone’s approach to things might be and the audacity to do something you might have done yourself at a younger age. When you’ve essentially passed on to just doing the basic in getting through life under the impression that being active in society even if just expressing resistance to a status quo that has become destructive due to the complacency of well-meaning folks what can you expect from people who feel things so immediately. The line “Don’t matter at all, we’re only just existing” is a kind way of stating that self-criticism. Later in the song the bit about “In the midst of it all, it feels like the worst thing, walls closing in” is a direct result of embracing one’s comfort a little too closely when perhaps pushing back when you could while still possessing a bit of one’s youthful spirit might have made a difference before things got too intense. Within that realization, though, is the implicit acknowledgment that despite having hit bottom too many times in life, despite having become a touch jaded about life and society, it’s still possible to stop hoping for a younger generation to take care of the problems you helped to generate and do at least a little something yourself even something as minor as a change of spirit and outlook. The song’s sweeping vistas of emotion and texture and contemplative tone makes that realization not hurt but is a salve to a psychology that has maybe taken a few too many blows and remains tender but can be nudged to a better place.
-Queen City Sounds.
“A Series of dreams (no.2) Is Powerful, passionate and a stirring slice of indie-rock; rousing vocals soar above chiming keys and shimmering guitars with seductive melodies - it is sweet, charming and stirs the soul just the right way. I’d say there’s something in the water in Denton, TX.
-BarryGruff.com

This is the weird that comes from someone with a tuned-in brain that sidesteps the obvious and makes terrifically melodic and dense studies in idiosyncratic lives. It’s the weird that you get when you’re at peace with your weirdness, not the kind you get if you’re completely unaware that there’s anything at all odd about you.”

— Sean Moeller, Daytrotter

“MATTHEW AND THE ARROGANT SEA come from Denton, Texas , yes they really do exist. Their LP ‘The Glooms Pt.1’ was released last year, a multifaceted folk, pop and indie record. So if you are into good storytelling and balanced sounds with all sorts of trumpets, saxophones, flutes, clarinets and also strong melodies, you should throw this LP on your essentials list.”

— We Love That Sound.

“Travelling Show” takes a complex knot of emotions, nostalgia and wanderlust, and unspools into a slow-build folk song that you could listen to for hours on end.”

— Stereo Stickman

At this time in my life I feel my diet changing. I can still digest rabid, feral, powerful rock / punk rock to pump up the psychic adrenalin in me (and the real adrenalin) but for the most part I crave thoughtful divergent music. That, not always, but usually comes from bands who have been around the block, who have well worn calloused fingers, maybe walk instead of run and had their hearts broken too many times. I don't know the collective core of Matthew And The Arrogant Sea (MATAS) from a place I have never been to, Denton - Texas, I have never spoken to them but every time their music crosses my path it feels thoughtful to me. I gleam something from their songs and I can "relate" to their words.

"DFK" is no exception. On easy sort of folk rock / indie rock sways Matthew Gray sings, "It was the dumb fuck kids who lit the match and got it going... lit up and pissed about the state of things and you can't really blame them... we would of done the same thing..." and as the song blossoms with some truly magnetic musical diversions that snap the synapses in your brain and even create a flutter in your heart, Gray conjures up feelings, resolute and aware to chew on.

The refrain "it don't matter at all, we're only just existing" sticks to me and while there are other reflections that feel like the claustrophobic walls of life creating intense anxiety, I also feel the Zen-ness of giving your self to the flow of it all. Now, in the 13 years that I have written about music and artists (nearly everyday) I have often said that music, that songs are sonic Rorschach tests for us to imprint our feelings, our deep shit upon and I feel, see a lot of things on the inkblot-ness of "DFK". A WHOLE lot, too much to write here but within the thought of existing there is the unfathomable thought, notion, of not existing and that thought invades my being from time to time. So the take away is to appreciate, be present in every moment of living, even relish in the bad things. Really notice the warmth of your coffee cup and if you take a tumble, slip and eat it during your morning run realize that, shit, that was a good fall. Yes, this came to mind while listening to Blake Vickery embracing bass lines, Tony Whitlock's lead guitar tones, Hagen Hauschild's easy in the pocket drumming, Jesse Chandler's garden rock keys and swelling synths and Matthew Gray's acoustic engine and beautiful voice crooning his poetic words.

Thoughtful music, hell yes. Oh, and I hate to compare one artist to another because really all artists just sound like themselves (with the exception of Greta Van Fleet) but for whatever reason, listening to Matthew And The Arrogant Sea, I flashed on an amalgam of R.E.M. and Miracle Legion.

-Robb Donker Curtius (American Pancake)