|
| REVIEWS |
Onelinedrawing
The Volunteers
(Jade
Tree)
Not long after the release of The Volunteers, it was
announced that Jonah Matranga’s latest music stable, Gratitude,
had indeed inked a deal with a prominent label. It leaves a
looming cloud over the existence of Onelinedrawing; prodding
the question of whether indeed this long serving project was
nothing more than time biding for something bigger. It would
have been a non-issue if The Volunteers did in fact
share the sentiments of passing fancy, jerry-built on shoestring
budgets and bedroom quality. Yet it is far from such demeanor,
it is by some distance the best work he has done since he donned
the moniker. And it is a progress that has seen lo-fi acoustic
twiddling flourish into the full-blown bliss of autumn pop seen
here.
The aura of falling leaves swiftly coats “Believer”
(a beautiful ode to the finalities of tearful goodbyes sung
so sweetly under his breath; “It’s a perfect day
to let you go / you’re truly through with me / So long,
bye bye”), and it is not the only time Matranga adopts
such wistful tones. In “Superhero” he so closely
echoes the affection of love’s triumph, crooning so achingly,
“And as sure as I can see you / there’s someone
who’ll need you / love will find a way,” to the
backdrop of lush melodies and delicate arrangements. Matranga
has become a regular heartbreaker; at least for a large majority
of the album, and his work has certainly beckoned a higher connectivity
because of it. Perhaps it isn’t novel concept for Jonah
to have his heart firmly attached to this sleeve, but never
has it been so succinct and effective (or for that matter, affective).
It does however present an argument that maybe there has been
some level of regression in his work; much of it has assumed
a far recognizable brand of pop music. But one could argue that
while it may not be as personal as his earlier, pre-Jade Tree
work, it far outreaches the effectiveness of said recordings.
Not to mention the staggering difference quality-production
can make on a little lonely boy and his guitar.
He does on occasion tap the flurry of rock oriented compositions.
However, when he plugs in, he effectively tunes out so to speak.
Only “We Had a Deal” really comes across as a competent
rocker; the other more forceful effort, “Over It,”
feels a little sluggish. While the album itself seems to have
adopted this feeling of adoration and the tumultuous overtones
it often brings, he does so in more meticulous approaches. As
expected, the majority of the album is Jonah and his guitar;
but the one time he forgoes the lonesome heartstrings, the electronic
tinkering of “Oh, Boys,” he ends up sounding like
a Postal Service hand-me-down.
Shortcomings aside, the album does present an artist’s
best work to date. In lieu of recent project developments, the
hope is Matranga will not simply abandon Onelinedrawing if Gratitude
does in fact succeed. If his goal is to indeed connect with
a greater audience, The Volunteers is a step in the
right direction.
Reviewed by
Billy Maulana
April 5th, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
