BryanJohnson And Family - Bryan Johnson And Family
2011, Bryan Johnson And Family
2011, Bryan Johnson And Family
There’s a lot to be said for complexcreations in rock and roll. Theintellectual crossroads of music theory, the raw energy of rock and roll, andthe hubris to take an art form known for simple, recursive structure is anintriguing playground that can be wonderfully refreshing or disastrouslyawful. Then again, there’s also a timeto just let loose and have fun with the music. That’s what Buffalo, New York-based Bryan Johnson And Family doesbest. Their latest EP, The self-producedand self-released Bryan Johnson AndFamily, brings listeners back to the early days of rock and roll, when thebiggest problems were simple heartache, and what to wear to the party thisweekend.
BryanJohnson And Family opens with "Beaches", acatchy little rocker that will have your toes tapping and a smile on your face.Ironically, "Beaches" is a forlorn love song in pure 1950's rocktradition. The Lo-Fi recording style has a period-feel that works well,although the vocal discipline in both the lead and the backing vocals isquestionable, with pitch issues popping up throughout the song. "Cool YourJets" gets stuck in the monochromatic melody of the choruses, but resolveswell in the chorus. The song is catchy enough, but the chorus does wear a bit."Deck Party" is a solid filler track, set firmly in the roots of1950's rock. Bryan Johnson And Family overuses the catchy hook that is thebasis of the song, but in a style consistent with pop songs of the era."Doesn't Matter" has a wonderfully catchy chorus - radio worthy inalmost any era of rock n roll. The recording quality/production here leaves abit to be desired, but this has the potential to be a real hit. "GetOver" is a wonderfully is also virulent in nature. In spite of the sonicimperfections, Bryan Johnson And Family draws you in, and you're having funbefore you know it. "Not Having Fun" is a solid, brief number aboutrelationships and friends and the poor mixes they sometimes make. The songseems a bit out of place here, and is something of a discordant close to anotherwise consistent and enjoyable experience.
Bryan Johnson And Family brings acertain stripped-down charm to their self-titled EP, surfing the sounds andstyles of 1950's rock and roll with a subtly modern edge. The songwriting issolid throughout, and even the sometimes questionable pitch in the vocalsdoesn't seem out of character with the period sound. Bryan Johnson And Familydoes suffer somewhat from low-end production values, a choice both artistic andnecessity-driven from being an indie band with a very small budget, but theheart of rock and roll beats clearly in this deliciously rough hewn bit of earcandy.
Rating:3.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn more about Bryan Johnson AndFamily at www.myspace.com/wbwt or on Facebook. You can get a digital copy of Bryan Johnson And Family! Just message the band through Facebook fordetails!