JOHNNY WORE BLACK – WALKING UNDERWATER PT 2

How can I describe this album? Robust, lush, amazing major to minor key changes between verses and choruses that breathe existence into each and every song on this album. Johnny Wore Black keeps a dark core intact, however, balanced with melodious and nostalgic riffs. This album is good. From beginning to end, its really good.

Walking Underwater Pt 2  opens with “Firefly”, with sirenlike guitars in sinuous waves. Jay’s vocals takeover as the rhythm and bass pull forward into the chorus. “Firefly”’s upbeat and sticky guitar solos give the song organic life, with an oldschool 90’s nostalgia about it. Another song waxing nostalgic, with an air of Pink Floyd from the Division Bell era, “A Cut Above” folds in deep grooves and bountiful key changes, adding interest , dimension, and tension.

“Comfy Slippers” features an easygoing lilting bright nestled up with bright twinkling guitar. The vocals meld into the end, which showcases the resonating nature of the guitar, with riffs a plenty. Nestled quiescently afterward is “Fallen Angel”, my favorite song from this album, specifically because I’m a long time Pet Shop Boys fan, and this song is like someone resurrected the essence that made Pet Shop Boys, and framed it in rock. The pleading verses have a have a magical Neil Tennant tonal quality, and the syrupy thickness of the refrains envelops the listener in tendrils of thick and lush rock.

“Gift of Despiration” is another Rock/Pet Shop Boys/Pink Floyd orgy, and I love it. It’s anthemic, lavish, and pleading. The bass on it is visceral and guiding, pushing and driving the song into and out of the verses and choruses, which are accentuated by emotive key changes.

A groovy grind introduces “I Do Dissolve” and we liquefy into the contagious beat, and find ourselves at an Arabic flavored solo that is equally delicious and exotic, like an oasis a midst the groove. A pleading guitar glides over our senses with “Noise”, and we are engulfed in auditory pleasure. Another favorite, “Noise” features tension filled key changes and thick rhythms that bounce between deep entrenched tribal beats and staccato peppered drum solos so juicy that you can practically taste them on your tongue. It’s a highlight of this album for sure.

Johnny Wore Black – Noise

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 “Shine On” plucks on the nostalgia strings again, however, this time pairing in Sara Renar as backup vocals. The song builds in momentum as it grows upon itself in both intensity and tempo, bursting into the triumphant end. Another set of siren-like guitars introduce a song on this album, breathing life into “Whose Children”. With its uplifting tempo and rhythm, it’s hard to not bob your head along with the beat.

See also

ALBUM REVIEW: HANDS LIKE HOUSES – DISSONANTS

As a lovely ending to the album, the cover of Loretta Heywood and Bomb The Bass’ “Winter In July”‘s riffs are lovely and melodic, whimsical and dark at the same time, bringing the album to a savory and satisfying conclusion.

It’s good…so good, in so many different ways. I’m going to have to go back and now listen to part I and compare! This one gets 4 skulls!

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 by Alice Roques, RockRevolt Magazine Cofounder and Managing Editor

JOHNNY WORE BLACK is:
Johnny Wore Black – vocals
Pete Mathers – guitar
Simon Hutchby – drums
David Ellefson – bass
James Coppolaro – guitar
Loretta Heywood – vocals (Winter in July)
Sara Renar – vocals (Shine On)