Imaginary Johnny has slowly but surely evolved from an electronica-laced solo project to full-fledged rock band. With a past that includes three distinctive and critically acclaimed albums, it’s evident on the latest release, Only Chimneys, that Imaginary Johnny has arrived at a unique balance of poetic songwriting and powerful minimalist performances.
Sporting its longest-standing and most cohesive lineup yet: Adam Sylvia on guitar, Ismail Lawal on drums, songwriter Stuart Wolferman on vocals and keys, and Marc Alan Goodman on bass, Imaginary Johnny paints a broad landscape, with private meditations one moment that erupt into defiant anthems the next. Sylvia’s guitar playfully weaves in and out of the main melodic thread – subtle but unmistakable. Lawal is similarly restrained and is as lyrical and expansive with his drum kit as Wolferman is vocally.
With postmodernism having devoured anything resembling sincerity, IJ’s candor stands out. The band’s quiet ferocity along with the tightly crafted songs with themes of outcasts and tiny moments add up to something bigger and combine to create a sound that is undeniably honest.
Video for Imaginary Johnny's "Work Related" from the 2006 release Painting Over the Dirt. Directed by Jeff Ullman.
* * *
"If the debut from Imaginary Johnny is any indication of what's to come, Belle and Sebastian best be watching its back. Muffled broadcasts and tweakedout squiggles peg lyrics about instant coffee, tropical rain storms and purple-clad prostitutes... summery ballads flutter past like sweet visions of rose colored icing on a three-tier wedding cake... the commentary on love, loss, and New Orleans never grows tiresome." -MAGNET
"Whether through words or sounds, it never feels artificial and never overriding. This, in a sense, is indie-pop's equivalent to Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger. It really is that good." -BROWNSVILLE HERALD
"While there are other singer-songwriters who enhance their storytelling with electronics, Imaginary Johnny envelopes acoustics, burbles and ideal pop vocals into a gentle, less-handled whole... Imaginary Johnny is either arriving at a new place or painting a picture of where he's been, sometimes fitful and other times content. The Upside of the Downside, with its warm fills and club-affectionate beats, is a songwriter with equal regard for electronics and illumination." -INDIEWORKSHOP.COM
