13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be Grateful For Gratitude, April 22, 2005
This review is from: Gratitude (Audio CD)
OK, let's get one thing out of the way first: I hate the emo explosion going on right now. I downright loathe it. There's a handful of really good bands coming out of the woodwork, getting success at the same time, and unfortunately, getting lumped in with that movement. Gratitude are one of those bands. True, frontman Jonah Matranga (who should be best known for his work in Far) could be considered the father of emo, not only as the frontman for the short lived New End Original, but as the brain behind the ultra-sensitive Onelinedrawing. But with this, his new group, he steers in a new direction, more towards a universally appealing pop-rock style, sounding more like U2 than Dashboard Confessional. I get the same feeling listening to Gratitude's debut as I did when I first got Far's "Water & Solutions" album, and although it doesn't really sound like it, it has the same passion and the same quality. Sure, songs like "Sadie" and "The Greatest Wonder" are classic Jonah, but "All In A Row" and the first single, "Drive Away," are more indicative of the new style and the overall tone the band is going for. Personally, I could never get into Jonah's post-Far projects (just a matter of taste I guess), but as far as I'm concerned, this is among his best work. I really don't understand how anyone could not like this album. If you like all varieties of music, Gratitude will appeal to you. There are too few bands out there making no frills, no strings attached, straight-up good rock music, which is why you should give this band a chance.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
its good! i promise!, March 9, 2005
This review is from: Gratitude (Audio CD)
this is a great album.
if you're a fan of jonah, you're sure to like it(as long as you weren't out to hate it from the start.)
also, if you do hate it, and run out of things bad to say about it, try to insult the band members clothing.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
THIS AIN"T EMO, May 10, 2005
This review is from: Gratitude (Audio CD)
People are jumping to conclusions before they listen to the music and calling Gratitude emo. Sure, Onelinedrawing may have been emo but this certainly isn't. It's simply great pop rock. There's no excessive melodramatics that you would hear in emo or screaming to try and make yourself seem hardcore, it's just great songs. Drive Away has some of the best hooks I've heard in awhile, The greatest wonder reminds me of U2 (in a good way), and Someone to Love knocks me out every time and the ending hook is priceless. Again, let me repeat this is aint emo, if you want that garbage listen to Hawthorne Heights or Taking Back Sunday. No tissues needed.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No