ChaosResolved
03-16-2006, 03:00 PM
Sign This Band
Johnnyrook
Minneapolis, Minnesota
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/johnnyrook.jpg
Website: Johnnyrook (http://www.myspace.com/johnnyrook)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/johnnyrook)
It's difficult to place a band like Johnnyrook in today's music scene. This Minneapolis band adopts a linear rock approach to its craft and lightly highlights it with moments of pure aggression. This alternative edge cuts deeply and grabs the listener's attention with a momentous force that is impossible to ignore. The Midwest generally isn't know for tight, exciting musical acts, instead providing a home for a plethora of immature metal and hardcore acts and a general abundance of generic rock bands, but Johnnyrook changes the scene much like Sign This Band's last feature, Dolly Trauma (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5829) (Ohio). The band's second independent release, Between Love and Loss revamps the band's old sound and layers it with a newfound energy that draws its influences from far and wide.
Johnnyrook last made an impact in 2004 with its debut effort, It's Better This Way. Although the album definitely had it's high points, as a whole I found it to be a bit inconsistent in the band's approach to its intended style. The band came off as a bit schizophrenic at times and the fluidity of the album was sacrificed a little too much while Johnnyrook developed its sound. However, It's Better This Way was definitely a debut album which was innovative enough that it make me do a double take, and it's artists like this that I anxiously await sophomore albums, where hopefully everything is tightened up and nailed down.
Between Love and Loss does just that. The aggressive and melodic aspects of the band are woven into a single harmonious unit that juxtaposes the acoustic guitar stylings of Zach Boyd and his soul-screeching backup vocals. James Kuzma provides the lead vocals, and how grand they are. Kuzma is by no means a low key singer, but even when he reaches for the more daring vocal parts, he is able to keep everything smooth and continuous, which is a clear indication of a singer who knows his ranges and limits. Kuzma leaves the rough parts for Boyd and the duo creates a sonic attack that is reminiscent of bands like Cave-In and The Postman Syndrome/Day Without Dawn that throttle the smooth/rough vocal formula. However, the acoustic leaning of Johnnyrook washes everything in a rich organic atmosphere that is matched only by bands such as The Mayan Factor and Wintersleep. The absolute best part of the band has to be Jay Butcher's drumming. While not overly complex or extraneous, Butcher provides a stellar foundation for the rest of the band's work. Considering the wide range of music covered by Johnnyrook, Butcher has his work cut out for him, and, as he shows, he is more than capable for the task.
Most importantly, Johnnyrook crafts songs that are catchy and memorable, as well as distinctly innovative. Tracks like "Missouri Loves Company," "Serves You Right," and "Set Your Sights Lower," prove to be quite addicting after repeated listens and the play between Kuzma's harmonies, Boyd's collected acoustic guitar, and Butcher's incessant drumming is blissful. I don't think I'd ever catch myself saying this, but after dropping the keys found in the band's work on It's Better This Way, Johnnyrook is sounding better than ever. The loss of the keys in the sonic landscape forces the band to fill the void with a perfect blend vocals and instrumentation and really shows the song-writing strength of this band. These songs are as powerful as they are soothing, and ultimately this is the driving force at the core of the band. The creativity comes in the medium of the different styles that Johnnyrook combines and mixes to find its sounds, but the dynamic aspect of the band is truly found in the deft song-writing.
Johnnyrook is any label's wet dream. It's difficult to imagine that any sort of radio exposure wouldn't result in an overnight success story, as the band manages to do the ultra-rare feat of making music that is commercially acceptable, yet sounds like nothing else on the radio. Extracting this band from the Midwest to a region where they could reach a larger fan base can only spread smiles across the faces of many weary music lovers. Johnnyrook will release its cd on March 24th at the Star Central in Minneapolis. Anyone in the area should grab a copy of the new album while it's hot.
~Jordan Volz
~~~~~~~~~~
Previous Sign This Band
Dolly Trauma (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5829)
Hundred Year Storm (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3122)
Johnnyrook
Minneapolis, Minnesota
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/trackingthetrends/johnnyrook.jpg
Website: Johnnyrook (http://www.myspace.com/johnnyrook)
Music: Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/johnnyrook)
It's difficult to place a band like Johnnyrook in today's music scene. This Minneapolis band adopts a linear rock approach to its craft and lightly highlights it with moments of pure aggression. This alternative edge cuts deeply and grabs the listener's attention with a momentous force that is impossible to ignore. The Midwest generally isn't know for tight, exciting musical acts, instead providing a home for a plethora of immature metal and hardcore acts and a general abundance of generic rock bands, but Johnnyrook changes the scene much like Sign This Band's last feature, Dolly Trauma (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5829) (Ohio). The band's second independent release, Between Love and Loss revamps the band's old sound and layers it with a newfound energy that draws its influences from far and wide.
Johnnyrook last made an impact in 2004 with its debut effort, It's Better This Way. Although the album definitely had it's high points, as a whole I found it to be a bit inconsistent in the band's approach to its intended style. The band came off as a bit schizophrenic at times and the fluidity of the album was sacrificed a little too much while Johnnyrook developed its sound. However, It's Better This Way was definitely a debut album which was innovative enough that it make me do a double take, and it's artists like this that I anxiously await sophomore albums, where hopefully everything is tightened up and nailed down.
Between Love and Loss does just that. The aggressive and melodic aspects of the band are woven into a single harmonious unit that juxtaposes the acoustic guitar stylings of Zach Boyd and his soul-screeching backup vocals. James Kuzma provides the lead vocals, and how grand they are. Kuzma is by no means a low key singer, but even when he reaches for the more daring vocal parts, he is able to keep everything smooth and continuous, which is a clear indication of a singer who knows his ranges and limits. Kuzma leaves the rough parts for Boyd and the duo creates a sonic attack that is reminiscent of bands like Cave-In and The Postman Syndrome/Day Without Dawn that throttle the smooth/rough vocal formula. However, the acoustic leaning of Johnnyrook washes everything in a rich organic atmosphere that is matched only by bands such as The Mayan Factor and Wintersleep. The absolute best part of the band has to be Jay Butcher's drumming. While not overly complex or extraneous, Butcher provides a stellar foundation for the rest of the band's work. Considering the wide range of music covered by Johnnyrook, Butcher has his work cut out for him, and, as he shows, he is more than capable for the task.
Most importantly, Johnnyrook crafts songs that are catchy and memorable, as well as distinctly innovative. Tracks like "Missouri Loves Company," "Serves You Right," and "Set Your Sights Lower," prove to be quite addicting after repeated listens and the play between Kuzma's harmonies, Boyd's collected acoustic guitar, and Butcher's incessant drumming is blissful. I don't think I'd ever catch myself saying this, but after dropping the keys found in the band's work on It's Better This Way, Johnnyrook is sounding better than ever. The loss of the keys in the sonic landscape forces the band to fill the void with a perfect blend vocals and instrumentation and really shows the song-writing strength of this band. These songs are as powerful as they are soothing, and ultimately this is the driving force at the core of the band. The creativity comes in the medium of the different styles that Johnnyrook combines and mixes to find its sounds, but the dynamic aspect of the band is truly found in the deft song-writing.
Johnnyrook is any label's wet dream. It's difficult to imagine that any sort of radio exposure wouldn't result in an overnight success story, as the band manages to do the ultra-rare feat of making music that is commercially acceptable, yet sounds like nothing else on the radio. Extracting this band from the Midwest to a region where they could reach a larger fan base can only spread smiles across the faces of many weary music lovers. Johnnyrook will release its cd on March 24th at the Star Central in Minneapolis. Anyone in the area should grab a copy of the new album while it's hot.
~Jordan Volz
~~~~~~~~~~
Previous Sign This Band
Dolly Trauma (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5829)
Hundred Year Storm (http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3122)