Staff Reviews

Johnny Foreigner - Johnny Foreigner Vs Everything

Review by Paul Stephen Gettings

A thrilling record on which you never quite know where you will be taken next.»

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johnny foreigner return with their third album proper, 'johhny foreigner vs. everything.' speaking about their new album, guitarist and singer alexei says: "we are bursting with excitement to be able to start talking about our wonderful record. it was made this spring and summer in our hometown by our old friend dominique james, and will be released november 7th on alcopop. it's going to be called johnny foreigner vs everything. "we started writing it two years ago, and staggered recording and mixing over 5 months. the title came first. this is the first full length record we've made without a grammy - nominated producer, without contracts and new york and professionals. the biggest challenge we've faced as a band, and the worst thing about leaving the world of corporate-funded labels, was knowing that sooner or later we'd come to this point; having to make a way better record for a way worse budget - and i'm beyond proud to say that i think thats exactly what us and dom have achieved. we've made the record that sounds like we do in our heads." a mix of their usual, frantic indie-rock, influenced by the likes of pavement, meneguar and cap'n jazz, and elsewhere the more reserved, hushed tones of sparklehorse and wilco, the album finds the band on arguably their finest form yet. dynamically their most varied record, it's difficult to pick highlights on an album that is full of them. from the familiar noise-pop of 'with who', 'electricity vs the dead' and 'hulk hoegaarden, gin kinsella, david duvodkany etc.' to the more controlled melodies that drive first single '(don't) show us your fangs', the wonderful, horn driven 'jess, you got yr song, now leave' and the anthemic second half of 'new street, you can take it,' the record doesn't ever let up on the quality.
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