Jay Johnson's Royal Blue Moon

Royal Blue Moon, Jay Johnson's newest offering is Jay unleashed, an album you have to listen to in whole, even though you have your favorite songs on it. Jay, Mark and the band burn through the songs, igniting within you their own joy at the music they play. 

The entire album is a delightful mixture of styles from the dirty southern blues 70's guitar sound of track # 1 "Lost in the city" to the soulful dirge of track # 12 "Rushing to Divide" proves that Jay is anything but a pigeonholed one sound (aka Nashville) artist. 

With the rebirth of classic favorite songs as track # 6 "Love In The Wasteland, from an old favorite of a cry'n in your beer blues to a more upbeat rock'n plead for a love'n woman song. Track # 2 "Blues #5" was reborn from an old favorite into a new song that really sticks in your mind!

One of my favorite songs on the CD, track # 4 "Josephine" is a light fluffy sing along tune which is the "Pitcher Song" of this CD. I love Rebecca's voice on this one!  We need to hear more of her on Jays albums!  Another one of my favorites, track # 8 "Inside Out" has a sort of Pink Floyd melancholy to it from Mark's guitar down to the lyrics.  As a matter of fact, track # 5 "Rain" reminds me a lot in style of the Blue Oyster Cult.

Track # 9, "Gitsumonya," is Mark's offering on this CD to the guitar Gods. Mark explodes into the rock star everyone wants to be in the privacy of their own house playin savage air guitar... it just plain kicks ass.  You cannot rein this boy in for anything!

Everything is in this album from blues to soulful sounds, from 70's dirty guitar, to track # 10 "The 41 Thing" which is reminiscent a bit of the 80's alternative sound.  As a matter of fact, if you can't find something you like in this album then you're a lost cause.

This was a very difficult review to write because you find yourself enjoying the music and not breaking it down to slap on the web!  I have tried for weeks to write this review and all I do is keep listening to the CD and not writing the review! seriously folks, just get a copy of Royal Blue Moon, you will not be disappointed and you will be subjected to pure listening enjoyment. The variety of music on this album shows the true versatility of Jay's abilities and talent. Who needs a silly contest to prove that?!  Jay, as always is Beer Bytch approved.

©2004 Beer Bytch Biz