And

Label: Xtra Mile Recordings

And is the new album from rock hero Jonah Matranga.  If you’re not familiar with the name then maybe you have heard one of his many projects over the years.  Jonah has fronted three great bands; the highly influential Far, New End Original and Gratitude aswell as solo records under the name Onelinedrawing and his own.  Jonah has a passion for music which is rare these days, what sets Jonah apart from the rest is his ability to play with as much sincerity to a crowd at someone’s or outside a venue after a show as he would to playing to a thousands strong festival crowd.

JM is not the only big name on this album.  Hardcore drumming legend Sam Siegler (Gorilla Biscuits, Youth Of Today, Glassjaw, Rival Schools – what a CV)  has lent a hand aswell as the engineering/mixing skills of Ian Love (Burn, Rival Schools).

This is exactly what you would expect of a JM album, the opening track So Long (and single to be released 03/09/07) is beautiful opening to And, a happy yet sad tale which can be taken many ways to make it your own.  Every Mistake is a touching song written with his daughter in mind but is something we would all like to say to a loved one.  Musically this album is not going to break any boundaries but it’s simplicity is the beauty of it with lyrics so intimate and well written to counter act.  The best tracks on this for me are So Long, Every Mistake, Waving Or Drowning and the more upbeat Not About A Girl Or A Place, although each of the 10 songs here has it’s own charm.

There are plenty singer/songwriter albums are released every week but if you want something a cut above the rest which stinks of integrity, check this out.  You can catch Jonah on tour through September with ex-Million Dead frontman Frank Turner and Jacob Golden.

by Dale

SEPTEMBER
10 Audio Brighton *
11 The Charlotte Leicester *
12 Cabaret Voltaire Edinburgh *
13 The Cathouse Glasgow *
14 The Cornerhouse Middlesbrough
15 Civic Hall Bar Wolverhampton
16 The Ironworks Inverness
17 The Tunnels Aberdeen
18 Trillian's Newcastle
19 Clwb Ifor Bach Cardiff
20 The Spitz London
21 The Cockpit Leeds
22 The Social Nottingham
23 The Barfly Liverpool
24 Central Station Wrexham
25 The Croft Bristol
26 The Park Peterborough
*Jay Jay (from Jay Jay & The Pistolets) supporting instead of Jacob Golden