New End Original - Thriller - Jade Tree

Review by Jennifer Perkins

When a CD like New End Original's Thriller comes across a music scribes desk, there are several things the musically trained eye picks up on right off the bat. Besides the Michael Jackson thing, you already draw assumptions when you see the release is on Jade Tree. It has been a while since these guys released a dud. After glancing over the one sheet, you notice the ex-members-of list. In the case of New End Original, the list includes Texas is the Reason (Norman Arenas & Scott Winegard) and Far/Onelinedrawing (Jonah Matranga). So before the CD ever made it to the player my ears were all pricked up and I was intrigued.

So, New End Original got my attention can they keep it? All the fame/talent by association in the world can't help some bands. This is where the part about the band being exceptionally talented and multi faceted comes in darn handy. New End Original have the skills to pay the bills and the talent to back up the hype and presuppositions. It is not every day you find a band equally capable of writing songs that tug at your heart strings (the Radiohead-esque "Leper Song") as they are proficient at writing good old fashioned top down pop songs ("14-41").

One of the true assets of the band is Jonah Matranga's voice. New End Original stands as a testament to this guys range and qualifications as a singer. Whether it be moments when he is crooning in perfect falsetto harmony or growling like an angry scenester - he is vocally able to run the gamut. Most bands pray for a singer that can conquer one genera let a long be blessed with one who makes any vocal styling appear to be a breeze. He could sing you to sleep or rile you into an angry frenzy at the toss of a coin. Sometimes he does both all in one song like on "Better than Ever".

Picking out favorites on Thriller, though no easy task would have to include "Lukewarm" and "Halo". "Lukewarm", the opener to Thriller is so catchy and addictive the band is lucky if anyone ever makes it past this song. I for one had to force my hand to stop hitting repeat. Once I made it past the first 4 minutes of the CD I realized that yes in fact there were even more gems nestled away here. Like for example "Halo", the karoke jam of the disc. The way he hits those high notes and the doubled up vocals on the chorus, whoa.

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover is the lesson to be learned here boys and girls. When a band has a star studded line up, a release on a consistently unblemished record label and an association with the King of Pop and plastic surgery these are all indications of good things to come. New End Original are the proof in the pudding.

See Pictures of New End Original here.