|
Sounds like: Wordy folk-pop; compare to Pedro The Lion, Plain White T's, Andrew Jackson Jihad
Top tracks: "Just a Lullaby," "The Next Life Available (Is This One)," "You Have a Beautiful Voice"
All Ben Johnson wants to do is pick up his acoustic guitar to sing songs and tell tales to any and all that will listen. It's a worthy occupation and one that the singer-songwriter takes to admirably. His guitar picking and piano work is solid and fluttery, and his uses his feathery voice to fine effect. So it's a shame that his lyrics often feel like obvious attempts to yank on the heartstrings. He spends the majority of the title track spilling out cloying sentiments to a nameless female friend, wishing that all the ills of the world had never befallen her. Other songs lay out treacly romantic sentiments, generous homages to songs written by David Bazan, and fist-pumping odes to self-reliance and determination.
Copyright © 2012 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Annual & Monthly subscriptions available.
- Print & Digital Issues of CT magazine
- Complete access to every article on ChristianityToday.com
- Unlimited access to 65+ years of CT’s online archives
- Member-only special issues
- Learn more
Read These Next
- TrendingAmerican Christians Should Stand with Israel under AttackWhile we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
- From the MagazineI Wanted a Bigger God Than My Hindu Guru OfferedAs my doubts about his teachings grew, so did a secret fascination with Jesus.
- Editor's PickHold Your ClapbacksC.S. Lewis recommended discernment over diatribes in exactly the moments we’re most eager to indulge in critique.