Sometimes I can be a right…tit. The boys in Attention sent me this EP about 2 months ago and I put it on and loved it. Then lost it. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I tipped my office upside down trying to find the copy and could not find it anywhere. Disheartened, and not having the guts to email them to say I’d lost it, I hoped it would turn up at some point. And turn up it did – in the boot of my car. God knows how it got there, but I’m glad to have found it because it means I can tell you how good this band are.
Three-quarters of Gratitude (ie, minus Jonah Matranga), Attention are a melodic rock band in the vein of All American Rejects, Spitalfield and, erm, Gratitude/New End Original. After two releases on a Japanese label this is their first effort on a more global scale and, quite frankly, it’s brilliant. It has a melodic edge to keep those of us who like their singalongs happy, while there’s still some riffage and vocal work to keep those Gratitude fans smiling. Jeremy Tappero’s vocals are fantastic throughout, but it’s the production and the mix which makes this record stand out. The EP’s lead song sticks out a mile from songs played on the radio right now, with a huge vocal hook and guitar riff. There’s a little Rival Schools in their sound as well, at least to my ears.
Each of the six songs on this record hits many, many right notes. The token slowie, ‘Never Tear Us Apart’, is a really grower and builds up beautifully. The band get the dynamics right nearly every time, with songs building up to huge choruses and the riffs, while slick, still have enough bite. It’s almost perfect. I was gutted when I thought I’d lost this EP. You’ll be gutted if you don’t give the band your full attention…