In Gratitude are certainly on the right lines with this, their debut release. I think the vocalist’s dulcet tones may be an acquired taste for some and I think if the band are going to really go places he may need to flex his vocal muscles a little more, a bit more guts and glory wouldn’t go amiss, but truth be told it’s difficult to pick fault with the two and a half songs on this record (one is a remix). The band play nicely stripped down indie rock music that doesn’t rely on over-layering instruments. It’s well produced, the songs are catchy and everything is very much in the right place. The title track is the best of the three by a stretch and showcases a band comfortable in their own skin and finding their own little niche. I found it difficult to actually find any relevant bands to compare them to; I wouldn’t say In Gratitude are unique by any means, but they don’t flagrantly rip anyone off and that’s a good thing. A bit of spit and polish in a couple of places would help tighten things up a little, but this is a good – and interesting – starting point.
