In 1990, Murfreesboro was just a small town in Tennessee. It later became a thriving center of music, thanks in part to Matt Mahaffey, who led the pop-rock scene with his band, Self.
He started a label, got signed to DreamWorks Records, appeared on the front cover of Billboard, among other publications, and climbed in popularity with each album. The turn of the millennium proved no different as Self made the first song of the Shrek soundtrack.
However, things came to a halt once the band started working on their fifth album. Release dates were delayed, DreamWorks was sold off, and a green light for an already finished album turned red. How did we get here, and was the album any good?
Plans started smoothly for Self
Rewinding back to 2003, Self was still in the limelight with numerous film songs. They announced Ornament & Crime for August, named after an old LA fashion store.
DreamWorks helped the release cycle, partnering with Streetwise to promote the song "Grow Up" as a single. The album wasn't finished, though, and fans were disappointed to learn Mahaffey set it back to March 3rd to continue recording.
The band published some cool behind-the-scenes videos to tide everyone over until it was finally done. Things were briefly back on track, but then DreamWorks' roster and catalog were sold to Geffen Records, and the label folded.
Under Geffen management, the band didn't receive approval that the album was worthwhile to distribute. Ornament & Crime got canceled, but the label maintained the rights, leaving it in limbo.
The album release was snaillike
Naturally, the band's fans came up with their solution: piracy. The album's demos leaked onto LiveJournal shortly after the news, though Mahaffey later asked fans to wait.
The tracks slowly got their well-earned publicity, even appearing in a Chrysler Sebring commercial with "The Pounding Truth". The band also began distributing downloads themselves through their Myspace and YouTube pages.
Ornament & Crime finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel recently, when it was pressed onto vinyl and CD by El Camino Media. In such a way, we now have a guilt-free and legal way to hear it in all of its glory.
Was the album worth the wait?
Ornament & Crime sees Self circling back to the alt-rock accessibility of their debut, Subliminal Plastic Motives. Still, it trades the quirky experimentation of Breakfast With Girls for something more conventional.
My personal favorite on the album is "How Can I Make You Happy?" (also known as "Mermaid" in leaks). The upbeat rocker is a fun, alternative angle of Madonna's "Material Girl."
While Matt's songwriting still shines in moments like the darkly soft "Can't Go On" or the self-aware "Grow Up", it's clear that his quirkiness has been tamed. However, it doesn't stop tracks like “Pathetic Song” from beaming a powerful, energetic vocal performance.
Ornament & Crime still carries some of Self’s charm and wit, even if it feels a bit like a retreat rather than a step forward. If you want to check it out yourself, it's now available for purchase on the label's website.