Review - Chasing Jonah - Prelude

 
Every journey in the music industry starts at the bottom of the mountain. It's an uphill struggle filled with years of grueling hours of work , determination, and frustration. The climb for Chasing Jonah has been no different. After releasing their previous EP the band became more of a collaborative project than a set line up. Ashley Dudukovich enlisted the help of several musicians in order to make Chasing Jonah's first full length album a reality. I'm happy to say that the time and effort was not wasted.

   The album incorporates more complete versions of songs that were previously released as well as new material. The first thing that fans will probably notice is the amazing production and scope of the album. Bringing in string instruments to flush out the tracks has created a much fuller sound. Hearing their subtle , yet moving presence in favorites like "Run" brings a new level of emotional depth that was not present in previous releases.

   The sound of the new album will be slightly familiar to fans of Chasing Jonah , although there is much greater diversity here. "It Wouldn't Be Right" is an an immediate candidate for a radio play single. While I normally would be against adding a more pop feel to a Chasing Jonah song, this is a great example of how to subtly change and tweak a song while staying within the overall feel of the album. "Miss Lorraine" brings a smoky blues and jazz element to the album and shows off another side of Ashley's vocals.

   The album is full of uplifting and emotional moments. If you are just jumping on board the Chasing Jonah bandwagon, there has never been a better time to do so. This is the best release to date and absolutely the best versions of the tracks that were previously released. If I have to pick a favorite song i'd probably go with "Til Somebody Tells Us So", but the quality of the album is so high that everyone will probably come away with a favorite of their own.

   I could probably write a book about the nuances that make this release so memorable and brilliant. Moving, powerful, and extremely well produced and performed would all be perfect ways to describe this album. This is an amazing piece of work that belongs in every music fans collection regardless of what genre you prefer. One of the best and most complete pieces of work I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

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