Jonah Matranga
And

Jonah Matranga is a loser. For years he's been hustling through the American indie circuits. Bands, records, concerts. He hasn't achieved the success he secretly longed for.

Leader of Far (one of the founders of emo rock: ok, the emo I mean has nothing to do with today's plasticky version of My Chemical Romance & co.... I'm talking about bands like Get Up Kids, Braid, Sensefield), then leader of New End Original (just one album, Thriller, beautiful). At a certain point, our J gets tired of the distortions, picks up an acoustic guitar, and decides to do everything solo, or almost. Under the monicker Onelinedrawing, he releases two albums more beautiful than the other (Visitor, The Volunteers), recorded on 4-8 tracks in hotel rooms, on couches borrowed from friends, around America. Melody in the foreground, a crystal-clear voice, a timbre like Thom Yorke/Damien Rice, emotion, lots of emotion, pathos, lots of pathos.

No one gives a damn about it.

But Jonah doesn't give up, he continues doing his thing. In 2007, "And" is released, the first full album (not counting various EPs and splits) under his real name. What can I say, Our Man doesn't miss a beat. The songwriting ability is more than good, and this, combined with a voice with the characteristics described above, creates pop-folk songs with a punch. As time goes by, Matranga has smoothed out some rough edges from his early works, so much so that "And" is a triumph of songs with irresistible pop appeal. A crime that you can't hear them. "So Long," "You Always Said You Hated S. Francisco," "Fathers and Daughters" are some of the best tracks, as if Yorke picked up an acoustic guitar and freed himself momentarily from his demons. Or as if the Get Up Kids of "Something To Write Home About" picked up just acoustics. Spleen a go go, until reaching the folk delicacy of "Lost, Then Found": plucked strings, circular melody, very fragile voice. A marvel. A Bon Iver for the masses.

Masses that seem not to acknowledge the good Matranga. I do, though. I follow him, and I'll continue to do so. I adore losers.