Review: Jonah Matranga and Kevin Seconds

Jonah Matranga and Kevin Seconds released a split 7inch vinyl through Canada’s Blacktop Records on December 22, 2009. The vinyl features four brand new previously unreleased songs including "I’ve Always Wanted To Write A Song Commanding People To Dance!" and "Daylight" by Matranga and "Grip On Yr Own" and "Life Unknown" by Seconds. It is a limited pressing of only 1000 hand-numbered copies, available online at blacktoprecords.ca and interpunk.com.

In 2007 the Canadian-based record label released Jonah Matranga’s full-length debut titled "And" (reviewed here). Kevin Seconds is known for his role as the frontman of the hardcore punk band 7seconds. Their split record is quite a departure and will probably surprise fans.

The second of the Matranga tracks is the best of the bunch, and closest to what we've come to expect from him - "Daylight" is a gentle and sparse acoustic affair, highlighting Matranga's vocals and skill at creating a compelling piece with so little. However, "I’ve Always Wanted To Write A Song Commanding People To Dance!" is wretched, just like any other dance song using fake drums and autotune. While you can admire a guy who takes risks as an artist, I can honestly say that I never want to hear this song again. The two tracks by Seconds are acoustic folk, near bluegrass, and not all that memorable for me. I recommend this release only for the most dedicated fans or collectors.

Jonah Matranga on MySpace. Official site.

Kevin Seconds on MySpace. Official site.

Review: Jonah Matranga "And"

Jonah Matranga has been around the block, honing his craft for years under the name Onelinedrawing. His latest (2007) release, "And", is a testament to the rich rewards that come with patience and persistence. Jonah is at the top of his game vocally, musically, and lyrically.

Jonah Matranga is one of those rare singer/songwriters that I imagine has the ability to bring a noisy coffeehouse to a -ahem- grinding halt. You could probably hear a pin drop when this guy takes the stage...his intimate and heartfelt songs are delivered with unbelievable sincerity. This type of "bring the coffeehouse down" feel permeates "And".

Fans of Matt Nathanson, Shawn Mullins, and Rhett Miller take note: Jonah Matranga will be a new favorite of yours. "And" is comprised of 10 very catchy, acoustic-driven folk rock songs. His smooth voice easily escalates into an angelic falsetto and back again. It works best on his sparse ballads, where the tenderness reaches out to knock on your heart, but it is strong enough to rock out on tracks like "So Long" and "Not About A Girl or A Place".

While I love the rockers, the standout track for me is "Every Mistake". His gentle delivery exudes a sincerity rarely heard in music these days, and lines like, "I'm gonna love you while you make every mistake", would make anyone feeling blue feel better.

Another cool feature - Jonah wrote out the chords above the lyrics, making it easy for you to learn these songs for open mic night at the local coffeehouse.

"The best things in life are lost, then found," Jonah softly sings on the closing track. Indeed...go find Jonah Matranga.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8

Jonah Matranga on MySpace. Official site.