| Reviews of The Gunshy's To Remember/To Forget... "From his moniker alone, it's clear that The Gunshy's Matt Arbogast is pretense-phobic. His warts and blemishes aren't merely part of his music- these shortcomings, failed relationships and social anxieties form the centerpiece of his debut, To Remember To Forget. The Gunshy will undoubtedly be compared to Bright Eyes, not only because of the band line-up that revolves around its mastermind, but because of the gory affect imposed on both frontmen's voices. Whether he's whispering or singing with a sick-sounding croak, Arbogast never stops warbling. Recorded on an eight-track in Arbogast's hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania with a few guest musicians, Forget is packed with sparse, acoustic sadness. Still, there are occasional bright spots in the bleak tapestry: the keyboard in 'To Forget' helps sweeten the despondency found in lines like, 'I'm living less with every breath.' The penultimate track, 'Always Right,' is the album's shining moment. It sports a catchy melody, a guitar line that chimes with life and lyrics that bespeak resolution, not helplessness. That it comes so late into the album makes its poignancy resounding: it shows that, like the best downtrodden music, 'To Remember/To Forget' has the power to get over itself and ultimately sound uplifting. Essential." - CMJ
"Using the moniker The Gunshy, Lancaster, PA's Matt Arbogast, with the help of his acoustic guitar and husky voice, delivers pensive, heart-on-sleeve ramblings, intimate love songs, and timid insights into life from the eyes of a singer-songwriter. Preferring the subtle to the intrusive, To Remember/To Forget doesn't cry on your shoulder or make you feel down. Instead, it speaks its mind without pushing you away, playing to your mood. Coming across dark and depressed when you need it, and able to conjure up the feelings to put you to bed after a memorable evening, the album holds strong throughout and gives you plenty of ammunition to come back to." - In Music We Trust
"The Gunshy are a trio of young men, headed by guitarist/vocalist Matt Arbogast, intent on wearing their proverbial hearts on their sleeves while avoiding any ties to the dreaded 'e' word. Their music is a fine testament to honest lyricism and simple songwriting. Matt Arbogast's lyrics come from the experience of someone twice his age, ('I know half of them made little sense, But nothing's changed I still forget what I think you might want to hear next, I've come to accept I'm living less with every breath.') and his voice takes on this personality with his gravelly out of breath delivery. In combination with his acoustic strumming and his bandmates subtle drums and keyboards, you'll start to believe that you're hearing some youthful proteges of Tom Waits or Low. Arbogast has offered an invitation for you to come into his little world and meet these strange and simple people that have made an undeniable impression on him and perhaps The Gunshy will leave you with a better understanding of those that you take for granted. If nothing else, remember The Gunshy's name, because they're only going to get better with age." - Bettawreckonize Magazine
"Like a flitting memory just out of grasp the cd 'To Remember/To Forget' draws your mind on a low-fi, melancholy trip of subtle thoughts and barely there melodies. It teases your mind with ghostly tunes and lyrics hinting at so much more. Led by the young singer and songwriter Matt Arbogast, from Lancaster, PA. The Gunshy is a sometimes band, sometimes solo act. This album is performed by a trio of boys playing a multitude of instruments varying per track. Throughout the disc, guitars, cellos, drums, keyboards and bass can be heard, but barely. Gently plucked strings and pretty chords are heard occasionally but there are moments where there are no instruments at all. Just the monotone, murmurings of raspy voiced Matt. It's different than anything else out there just by it's sheer scarcity of anything typical. It is strange to hear music that sounds 'silent', almost creepy. So subtle at times it's non-existent, but the knowledge that something is there and affecting is undeniable. So much emotion is heard with such little variation and inflection it is unsettling, but the impact of the music and profundity of the lyrics is clearly felt. Singing softly, it sounds like Matt's whispering ghostly, half heard messages into your ear. He has an aged voice, sounding as though he's already lived lifetimes beyond his years and is drawling out the tedious experiences of past regrets purely for the benefit of the listener, though it must pain him. Sometimes trippy, and sometimes disturbing (check out the long, bizarre hidden track for example) all these eerie, desolate songs may rouse a big question: where's the pep? A lighthearted journey of fanciful memories cannot be found here, but the teasing tastes of pleasantries can be, on the albums most standout tracks ('The Ghost of an Alibi' and 'Always There'). Enhanced greatly by a fuller sound, the instruments make their presence known and are welcome comforts to hear. Even though they're still played in a subtle fashion, it feels like deafening relief after such desolate, dreary soundscapes. If you enjoy simple stripped down acts such as Tom Waits, Low, or Onelinedrawing, and somber nights of tears and dim light are what you're looking for, than this album is for you. Declared an 'essential' artist by CMJ, it's possible that soon The Gunshy's whisperings will be reminding everyone to forget." - Wake Zine
"I came upon the whisky soaked droll of The Gunshy by random chance. Vocally I invision Tom Waits in the late 60's in the basement pubs of Hamburg, Germany singing to the lonesome individuals about the melancholy of past breakups and future loss. Upon each listen I find The Gunshy the narrator for much of my own loneliness and heartache. Each song brings another honest story of nostalgic loss, 'We have the ones the most who aren't afraid to show those traits we spend our whole lives trying to hide.'" - Slug Magazine
"Matt Arbogast is the head of this project, which can range from just him, to a full band, much like Wolf Colonel. Unlike Wolf Colonel though, this is the kind of stuff you turn off the lights, light a couple of candles and get drunk on wine by yourself to. His voice barely ever creaks past a whisper and always seems on the verge of breaking into tears. The minimalist approach of acoustic guitars quietly accompanied on occasion by drums, cello, etc. does a lot for the sound. All in all, not a bad bit of work, and certainly not something I would mind seeing live...unfortunately The Gunshy aren't local. I'll just have to wait to see if they tour." - Geek America
"The Gunshy's Matt Arbogast's voice has that perfect breathy quality that just seems to evoke sincerity and compassion. It's as if he's singing to you, almost whispering his vocals in a hushed tone that speaks of deseration and melancholy...Take a heavy dose of Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst (without the warbly vocals), add in a dash of Nick Drake, and stir in Will Oldham, and you have concocted The Gunshy. The sincerity is undeniable, and the soft acoustic guitar and conspirational tone is a nice approach...The Gunshy have created a very passionate debut album that's perfect for early morning or late night listening." - Delusions of Adequacy
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