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From Panda Love Unit to where? Johnny Foreigner have a near-criminally underrated debut album Waited Up ‘Til It Was Light and should be not only a Birmingham treasure but a national one and beyond.
You Can Do Better (Alcopop!) is the 4th album from Jo Fo and it returns to the ragged glory of the 1st album in many ways.
‘Shipping’ kicks off the album with that rattling, earnest sound that Jo Fo do so well. Guitar licks schooled in the Dinosaur Jr You’re Living All Over Me era shine through with many more references (Pixies for one) but it’s the rattle and urgency that elevates Johnny Foreigner above many other bands.
‘Le Sigh’ offers that male/female vocal blend which is hard to pull off this well. Jo Fo aren’t afraid to wear their influences proudly and in doing so charm the listener with driven alt-pop. Delicious. ‘In Capitals’ is welcomingly longer and that slack drum towards its tail end solidifies the bands sound which is their own identity badge. Lo-Fi Glory.
But it’s with ‘Riff Glitchard’ that Johnny Foreigner IV gets more epic. Endearing ragged bliss and arguably the band’s real coming of age; right angles of sonic buzz explode as the track eases out. A Winner. ‘The Last Queens Of Scotland’ treads water with ease again, exploding with shards of fraggle and utter warmth.
On ‘To The Death’, Alexei and Kelly reel us in again with sub-pop tinged harmonies put straight through the Brummie blender. Experimental and warm. Yup – it’s good.
‘Devestator’ washes the album away with welcome length and experimentation. As the sound leaves again you may scratch your head and wonder why Johnny Foreigner aren’t a bigger band as they showcase earnest music that wears its influences proudly and offers so much more too. One for the collection.
You Can Do Better is released March 10 via Alcopop! Records.
