Johnny Reid: Born To ROCK ...and Roll!

By the way, I think "gypsy" appears in at least three different songs on this album. Which says something about Johnny Reid and his past, that is oh, so intriguing.

Reminds me of something Jim always says:
"Back when I was on my gypsy tour..." in reference to a period of a time when Jim wasn't sure which direction he was headed in life -- all he knew is he was chasing some dream, and he hadn't found it yet. (Then he married me... *wink wink*)

A baby's born, a momma cries. She sees a glimpse of his daddy there in his eyes. They take him home and watch him sleep, Stand and wonder who he's gonna be. Then it's Tonka Trucks, and baseball gloves. Then his first kiss and his first love. The innocence just don't last... Our dreams and our future go by so fast.

Those words are cool. And Johnny's voice does them more justice than the keys on my computer do, but it's the chorus that really seals the deal on this song for me. In the chorus, the Forces of Nature all come together in a unique, melodramatic way: Mountains moving, Rivers running, Shadows falling, Suns setting, Thunder rolling, Lightening striking, Darkness covering and Light being swallowed up ...Love it!

What's Johnny's Music Like?
It's raw, it's loud, it's deep, and it's always straight from the heart. Which pretty much sums up the kinda guy Johnny Reid is (...from what we've learned in the short time we've known him anyway).

His sound has been compared to that of a number of different singers. To me, Johnny Reid shares similarities with these classics:

• Joe Cocker (breathy notes sung straight from the soul)
  
• Rod Stewart (throaty sounding chords, lots of mandolin)
  
• John "Cougar" Mellencamp (happy, straight-shootin' talk with a smirk)
  
• Van Morrison (passion-filled songs that come deep from the heart)
  

Johnny Reid, as a singer/songwriter, reminds me of my other three faves: Shawn Mullins, Pat Green and Jeffrey Steele. They both have a sound that's unmistakable, yet also undefinable. Country? Not in MY book, but I guess for the "powers that be" (the record labels and the radio stations), they have to classify it as SOMETHING... I prefer to call it Xtreme Country!

Think about it... These guys aren't singing sappy tear-in-your-beer love songs with that Southern twang. Their love songs ROCK! And I'll bet barely 10% of their audience even OWNS a cowboy hat. Now, what kinda Country is that?! Non-traditional Country, if anything.

If I was somebody who was anybody, I would LOVE to help create a new genre for this new kind of Country music that seems to be used to classify everyone who can't be fit into another category. That's what Country music is these days... a catch-all category.

Okay, okay... I'll save that discussion for another day, another post. Sorry.

"After living in Nashville for the last 4-1/2 years, Reid has been classified as a Country-music singer, a label that doesn't quite suit his multi-dimensional style. Yet while the label might be somewhat inaccurate, there are aspects of the genre which are apparent in his music. 'I've never once called myself a Country singer. But when I went to Nashville, I fell in love with the lyrical style of Country music... I was a child of the mid-80s and listened to '80s rock bands. So if you listen to the album, you can probably hear a hybrid of all of these things, a wee bit of Country, a wee bit of rock, a wee bit of soul.'" Source

My Summary...
"Uniquely catchy" defines each and every song on Johnny Reid's "Born to Roll" album, as you just can't help but tap your foot and bop your head when you're listening.

"Feel-good rock" comes to mind as a phrase to classify these tunes. Even the handful of slower ballads are so introspective and passion-filled that you're tapping your toes to THAT beat which is so captivating.

"Addicting" summarizes this entire album... it's one you WANT to listen to over and over again. The best part: if you're like me, you'll never tire of it.

"Best-kept secret" defines Johnny Reid, the singer/songwriter, as he takes his Canadian stardom on the road and tests the waters here in the States. As soon as people in these parts catch wind of his music, he'll be topping the American charts in no time. He's already proven himself in Canada... now he's here to prove it to everyone else!