MATT JAFFE & THE DISTRACTIONS

"Jaffe’s sound is certainly eclectic, completely unexpected, and undeniably catchy - an effervescent marriage of punk-rock hooks and funky, rockabilly melodies. You’ll find nothing else like it in mainstream today, but it’s not an accident. The twenty-year-old frontman wears his influences on his sleeve, summoning cues from The Clash, Bob Dylan and Talking Heads. Jaffe exudes an effortless James Dean vibe with a stage presence reminiscent of Young Americans-era David Bowie." MUSIC EXISTENCE

"A New York concertgoer is no stranger to the cool smolder of Irving Plaza’s chandelier lighting, and the hushed excitement building up to the first note of the night. But even the regulars were blown backwards by Matt Jaffe and Blues Traveler, who nonstop wailed in a retro-rock haze." PANCAKES & WHISKEY

"Boasting raw talent so precocious that you find yourself wondering why in the hell you didnÍt do anything like this when you were 20, Matt Jaffe sounds like he's already hit full stride on his debut EP Blast Off." POPMATTERS

"Blast Off ... channels the frenetic, angular sound of the singer's favorite artists, including Elvis Costello and the Talking Heads." SF CHRONICLE

"The 19-year-old singer-songwriter creates self-assured music that brings you back to 1970s pop-punk a time when Elvis Costello, X and the Clash ruled." MYSPACE

"Blast Off cops new-wave vibes from Talking Heads, a little rockabilly sneer from The Clash, and coats everything with a power-pop sheen that pays homage to Bay Area forebear Green Day." ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

"One of the freshest new sounds of the year is coming out of San Francisco, by way of nineteen-year-old Matt Jaffe, and his band The Distractions." LAST FM

"With this rather sensational debut, Jaffe could very well be blasting off to the kind of break-out success his talent deserves." MARIN IJ

"Jaffe has perfected his modern take on rockabilly, new wave and indie pop-punk-rock, fusing them together for an unforgettable listening experience on his brand new EP with the Distractions, Blast Off." DIFFUSER

"The only thing sharper than that diamond-cuttingly-sharp coif are his lyrics and riffs." BLACK BOOK

"Best New Song by an Artist Born During the Whitewater Scandal: 'Put Your Finger in the Socket' by 19-year-old Matt Jaffe and his SF-based band the Distractions. Classic songcraft, weird and compelling vox, formidable on-camera charm... this is the Elvis Costello / Tyler Oakley lovechild we've been waiting for." PAPER MAGAZINE

"Though Jaffe is just 19-years-old, he has already made a name for himself in the northern California rock scene. Jaffe & The Distractions proudly wear their influences on their sleeves, featuring the rock sensibility of the Clash with the memorable songwriting and tone of Elvis Costello. On 'Put Your Finger In The Socket', Jaffe manages to reinforce why this vintage sound is back in the limelight while simultaneously adding his own modern spin to the genre." ELMORE MAGAZINE

"There's no way around it: hearing a performer this good at 19 years old is notable." KALW

"San Francisco based Matt Jaffe's enthusiasm for pop rock is palpable and he is more than equipped to spread the gospel." THE VINYL DISTRICT

"'All too often, it seems that music is being written and produced so sleekly that it can just blend into everyday life, without jolting you. We want to jolt the listener. We do not want to be elevator music.'" (Matt Jaffe) HUFFINGTON POST

"He's a great talent, and many people will hear of him in the future." (Jerry Harrison) MARIN IJ

"But his charm is far more than cute; his voice is distinctive – there is nothing like it in the hard rock world. And his guitar-playing is superb – grounded in years of classical training that makes the instrument an extension of his body and his mind." MUSIC JUNKIE PRESS