Crucial Tracks 005: Matt Dente

We're back! And I couldn't think of a better person to share for this next Crucial Tracks interview. Today we bring to you Matt Dente, musician and designer, currently living in Tucson, AZ. In terms of music, Matt is most known for playing guitar in many Buffalo hardcore bands, including Redline, Envy, Despair, and most recently Longest War.

At a very basic level, Matt grew up with Chris and I in Lockport, NY. Matt moved to our town in the early high school years and given the close proximity of our last names, he was my locker neighbor and in my homeroom for almost the entirety of high school.

Matt had a big impact on my musical life: not only did he introduce me to other Dischord/DC bands that weren't Fugazi, but I also spent about a week touring with his band Despair as a roadie/merch guy. And he's spent a good deal of time trying to convince me to listen to Steely Dan. Great memories!

On a personal level, we both (and Chris, eventually!) went to the University at Buffalo, Matt also moved out to Seattle shortly after my wife and I (and our friend Brian), and he was also the best man in my wedding. All in all, a great person and friend.

With all that said, here's the interview!

To start out, can you tell us a little about yourself and where people can follow your work?
My name is Matt. I’m 48 years old and live in Tucson, AZ, with my wife and 10-year-old son.

How do you listen to music? (albums, playlists, radio?) Digital or physical releases? What service or media (vinyl, CD, tapes, etc)?
Apple Music. All digital.

In terms of picking music, do you stick to your favorites or search for new music, or is it a mix?
I’d say about 80% of the time, I stick to my favorites, and 20% of the time, I explore new music. 

If you try to find new music, how do you go about finding new artists or albums?
Crucial Tracks (aww shucks! - Ed.) , No Echo, and exploring Apple Music for recommendations.

What's your earliest song/music memory?
My earliest memory is listening to the Sesame Street Christmas Album. I remember my parents setting up the record player and giving me headphones. I loved the feeling of having a personal connection with the sound. Rubber ducky!

What is an important song from your childhood?
“In God’s Country” by U2. The production style really resonated with me as something different at the time. U2 is a great band and all, but I think what really spoke to me was the production work of Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno on that album.

What's one song that's important to your teenage years?
“Once” by Vision from the album In The Blink Of An Eye. That whole record is on point and I love it. Hardcore had a huge influence on me during these years. Bands like Snapcase, Slugfest, Outspoken, Agnostic Front, and Sick of It All made a big impression on me, but that Vision record is one of my all time favorites. R.I.P. Dave Franklin.

What's one song that stands out from your college years?
“Disconnected” by Face to Face. During college, I played in bands and traveled a bit. On one month-long tour, I decided not to bring my Walkman for some crazy reason. On long drives I was bored without something to listen to, so a friend took pity on me and lent me his Walkman for a bit each day. Big Choice by Face to Face was one of the few tapes he had with him, so I listened, and loved it. I’ve been a fan ever since.

What's one song from early adulthood that stands out?
“The Caves of Altamira” by Steely Dan. I worked in a pharmacy called Fay's Drugs in Lockport, NY in high school. The store had a single hour-long tape of recorded music which they played over-and-over again. The tape was never changed out while I worked there, which was for over a year. So, I heard this tape hundreds of time. The “DJ” on the tape for "Fay's Radio" announced all the songs like "Here Comes The Sun," "Margaritaville," and "Peg" by Steely Dan off the album Aja. I remember thinking, "Who listens to this shit?" It turns out that in my mid-20s, I did. A lot. People love or hate Donald Fagen and Walter Becker's music. I love it.

What's a song that stands out from your current/most recent relationship?
“Vibin” by Masked Wolf. My son loves rap and hip-hop. He discovered Masked Wolf and now has my whole family listening together. It's fun to watch him get into music he loves and we're 100% supportive of that. So many lyrics are not "family-friendly." but whatever.

What's your favorite song from the last year?
“B.C.H.C.” intro and “New Wage Slavery” by End It. This came out in 2022, but I discovered it last year and according to my Apple Music replay, these are my top two songs of 2024. I'm not surprised, I couldn't get enough of those tracks. End It encompasses everything I love about hardcore; speed, urgency, and raw energy.

What's your most listened to artist of the last 20 years?
According to my Apple Music stats, Boards of Canada is my most-played artist of all time. I discovered them in 2006 while living in Vancouver, B.C., around the time they released The Campfire Headphase. BOC evokes a range of emotions every time I listen to them, and I never get tired of it. This is my desert island album.

Listen to this issue of Crucial Tracks

Find this issue’s playlist on Apple Music and Spotify. 

Thanks

Thanks to Matt for sharing his Crucial Tracks! Matt is one of the few people I know who doesn't have any social media and honestly I'm quite jealous of that in many ways. It certainly makes catching up in real life that much more fun.

If you aren’t subscribed, what are you waiting for? Add your email to our newsletter list and get notified of new posts, as well as enter in our record giveaway at the end of February. And, please, tell your friends!

Thanks for reading.
-Jason