Review Summary: New End Original's Thriller provides deep and entertaining lyrics while keeping music integrity in tact.
Everyone has his or her own artist or singer that are constantly followed with whatever project they do, whether it be Stephen Malkmus, Mike Patton, Daryl Palumbo, or Maynard James Keenan. While I may be guilty for any of the artists above, none really connects as well as Jonah Matranga. It has been my overall thing to try to spread as much of his side projects as I can until there is nothing else to say or any record to review. The reasoning? So that everyone can hear what I have been hearing over last few years. His latest band project, Gratitude, was a downer in its short time span, but before that was his band, New End Original (an anagram of his, usually, solo project
Onelinedrawing). New End Original’s album entitled
Thriller contains some of Jonah’s original tracks but with a band filling the void for what his tracks lacked. In addition, they wrote plenty of new tracks as a band.
The emotions within the album range from an uncanny happiness to gloomy dreariness. Lukewarm and 14 to 41 start a joyful trend to jumpstart the album (Jonah’s daughter says ‘1, 2, 3 set go’ to start the record). Lukewarm is perhaps the best overall the song on the album with witty lyrics and spot on instrumental work. This excerpt highlights the overall tone of the significance of Lukewarm when he says, ‘People always tell me how happy I could be, I'm never gonna find out. A house in the burbs and a bitchin' SUV is how I'm never gonna wind up.’ Jonah admits what could be ultimate defeat or just the acknowledgement that he is glad how his life is playing out. The next track, 14 to 41, was featured on Onelinedrawing’s
Sketchy EP #1 and while the lyrics are the same, the band fits the mood that the song should carry. Throughout, the sound is enthusiastic and cheerful, like it intended when written. Both songs are typical of the bands sound for the majority of the album. However, emotional staples such as Hostage and Leper Song are deep songs. Whether it is the coarseness in Jonah’s voice in Hostage or the softness in his voice in the piano-driven Leper Song, he lets it out regardless.
New End Original has an alternative punk/rock sound to it but with a poppy attitude. After all, ex-Texas Is The Reason members accompany on the record, playing guitar and bass, while former Chamberlain drummer is simply great throughout. Melodic, yet eerie guitar work are present in songs like Titanic, Hostage, and Better Than This (previously featured with Onelinedrawing). Furthermore, during the album, the dual guitar effects blend effectively between clean riffs and distorted power chords. As far as drumming as a whole, the tiny little fills that are incorporated make it shine through the cracks of an ordinary drummer. In addition, New End Original controls dynamics flawlessly. At times when needed, that change between soft and loud happen without much warning. During the under two-minute Weary Progress, the song can be energetic but when it begins to get emotional, the switch gears instantly. Downsides include the lengthiness of certain songs that may tend to drag. In addition, it lacks that certain creativity instrumentally that could have made this album much more than it is now.
New End Original are a resemblance of the middle class of music. Overall, they are not doing anything that completely hinders their music, but they are not making advancements to change music for the better. Regardless, Thriller is enjoyable and a great listen anytime and a vivid, yet small, example of Jonah’s significance in today’s musical realm.
The definite unofficial myspace that contains three songs from Thriller:
http://www.myspace.com/newendoriginalisthebest
