Johnny Lives!--Get Steady

Before I even pop in the CD my expectations of Johnny could not be higher. Amazing quotes from NME grace the liner notes, and the inclusion of Strokes member Nick Valensi and Jodi Porter from Fountains of Wayn pound into my brain that Get Steady is the greatest thing since Iggy Pop (according to NME) or Radiohead (according to Village Voice). Let’s not get crazy here, shall we? Jonny Deubowsky and his band of hooligans from East Village kick off the album immediately with the album’s namesake "Get Steady." Based on a cliché rock-star-esque 48 hours in the UK, the song is probably the best on the record and contains hard hitting alternative instrumentals and Deubowsky’s rousing vocals. "Everybody’s Trying to Break You" is a brilliant mix of emotional ballad themes and distorted alternative themes that turns out to be a healthy blend of both. "Cliché" has some obvious Foo Fighters influences – and even a bit of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden – and follows much of the Foo’s work on One By One: distorted guitars that are far from overbearing complete with a pop radio-ready chorus. Also included is wonderfully ‘90s guitar solo before kicking off the strong finish. Get Steady is a solid release, but has its faults. "Lost My Mind" is an annoying acoustic track, and the album feels sluggish in places. Still, tracks like "Do It Again" (with its Sonic Youth blips and tiny Pumpkins’ solo) and "B-Side" show that Johnny can do more than standard alt-work. Yet, I still feel disappointed. I was expecting the best thing since Iggy and Yorke, and all I got was an excellent alternative-rock album. Get Steady is, well, a steady album with perhaps too much hype.

(Published at MusicEmissions.com)