Johnny Foreigner vs Everything - Album Review
Posted by Guest Writer on Mon, 24 Oct 2011.
Alexei Berrow
Kelly Southern
Junior Elvis Washington Laidley
Formed in Birmingham back in 2006, Indie rock trio Johnny Foreigner have returned with their fourth album "Johnny Foreigner vs everything". The album has been two years in the making and is their first album produced with new label, Alcopop records (with the band stating "it felt like we took a massive gamble leaving our old label"). But will the reduced budget for this album affect the high standard that Johnny Foreigner has earned over the years? Have they overdone it with quite frankly, a huge amount of tracks (17 in all)?
The Album features Alexei Berrow the guitarist/lead vocalist, Junior Elvis Washington Laidley on drums and bassist Kelly Southern, together they cover quite a few different styles through their music such as the upbeat song 'You Vs. Everything' a very rallying tune showing their musical talents to the fullest, to a more relaxed approach in the form of 'Johnny Foreigner Vs. You', which is my personal favourite track. This one really struck me as being very different to the rest of the songs in the album, a standout track, it's a piano and vocal piece and it really blows my mind when ever I hear it. 200x is quite a nice relaxed piece too, with Kelly almost sounding a bit Lily Allen (ish).
'Supermorning' comes as something of a surprise too, almost a full instrumental, not only highlighting the bands abilities as musicians, but as accomplished songwriters too. I would recommend this album to some one who was on the look out for something a bit different, even "Drowned In Sound" have said that this new album has "Some of the most exciting indie-pop sounds committed to record by a British band in a long while", high praise indeed! I really would recommend giving it a listen, if not for the entire album then even just for the song 'Johnny Foreigner Vs. You' (I can't express how much I love that song).
Johnny Foreigner vs. Everything will be released on November 7th via Alcopop! You can find out more about the band here: http://johnnyforeignertheband.com/
Review by Brandon