Gratitude – You’re Invited

Gratitude is the new band from Jonah Matranga (one line drawing, Far), and Mark Weinberg (Crush), and when I got my hands on a copy of their new EP, You’re Invited, I didn’t know what it would be like. After a couple listens, I was starting to really like it, but there was one major problem: the length. It was a short EP, with only 4 songs averaging around 3:20 in length. I was disappointed that this was all I could hear from the band, so boy was I happy when I found out that that’s not all we’ll be seeing from the band.

In reality, You’re Invited, is an online EP, which you can only get an actual copy of if you know the right people or win a contest with this as a prize. It is four songs taken from their forthcoming self-titled album due out in March on Atlantic Records. You can stream it all on their e-card (and enter to win a copy of the actual EP there too).

Their sound breathes a breath of new air into a saturated scene. Their pop-rock stylings may not be the most original, but it’s good enough to stand out in a crowd. Form the opening lines of Drive Away to the closing lines of Another Division Street, the four songs are able to energize you and get you singing along. Matranga’s vocals are strong and confident, not polished or boyish. Each instrument is solid and vivid, no overlays, giving a type of indie-rock feel to it. Really, there isn’t a downside on these four tracks other then the fact that there’s only four.

So why not head either to their e-card or website to take a listen to these amazing four tracks, and then hold your breath as we wait for the moment when we will be able to hear the full album in all it’s glory.