The Johnson Family Band

Know Wisdom, the debut EP from Baltimore’s The Johnson Family Band is living up to its hype. Utilizing a solid rhythm section to keep every groove well in the pocket allows vocalist, Michal Roxie Johnson to explore many lyrical phrases and styles as she delivers a truly remarkable performance. The vocals on this release are nothing short of perfection as she takes center stage in our listening space with her dynamic range. Not allowing herself to be seated into the rhythm, the mix puts her voice much louder than the accompanying music, which really gives Know Wisdom its power and presence. From the opening track, Angel Walk, we are gifted with a really funky walking bass line to set the stage for this performance, (compliments of bassist Steve Johnson). Angel Walk builds tension as develops into a musical theme, this tension should typically be released within the first couple measures, however, The Johnson Family Band maintains this pressure throughout the piece leaving listeners eager to get to the next track. Hurricane, the third track from Know Wisdom showcases drummer/percussionist Kamyar Arsani, with his poignant time-keeping ability, syncopating the downbeat on the hats while giving us a very sharp, and deliberate snare snap which gets the listeners attention and pushes them to the dance floor. This vibrant beat carries out throughout the track giving expression to the many ways Joan Sullivan explores the available phrases set out by the funk, guitar playing from Joan Sullivan. Of course, reviewing all seven tracks from Know Wisdom is outside the scope of this review, I will mention, in my opinion, the stand-out track, Round And Round. This track features a shift from the four-piece sound we have settled in for by giving us a mature and well-fitted keyboard/synth accompaniment. I mention this as the vocals, still well into the forefront are expertly rounded by the staccato type pulses from the keys as a surrounding encapsulation of sound, fitting for the subject matter of the song. Pay special attention to the cymbal play throughout this track as it really adds color and brightness to this dynamic piece.

Lyrically, Know Wisdom is narrative, generally focussing on setting a scene of which to explore the themes of each track. The effective use of clever metaphor offers imagery and illustration to the larger-than-life subject matters the Johnson Family Band looks to explore. “All our Rituals, so put the curtain back on the wall, where curtains go on the wall”, from Rituals, another clear example of the many-faceted implication of ideas. The production on Know Wisdom, as mentioned is mature, and professional. This nod to the nostalgic 60’s soul and disco sound coupled with contemporary musical styling blends exquisitely across the frequency range with the vocals being well-compressed yet allowing the allotted headroom to replay these songs at high volumes without distortion or noise. Know Wisdom, for its clearly Urban-rooted sound, would be an excellent fit across a very wide range of radio format interests, from Urban, Pop, or Adult Contemporary this album features those infectious choruses, brilliant performances, and clear, defined sound radio would swoon over. The replayability of each track makes Know Wisdom a very enjoyable album and a must for any playlist featuring song vocals and expert instrumentation., and Outkast.

Lyrically, Know Wisdom is narrative, generally focusing on setting a scene of which to explore the themes of each track. The effective use of clever metaphor offers imagery and illustration to the larger-than-life subject matters the Johnson Family Band looks to explore. “All our Rituals, so put the curtain back on the wall, where curtains go on the wall”, from Rituals, another clear example of the many-faceted implication of ideas. The production on Know Wisdom, as mentioned is mature, and professional. This nod to the nostalgic 60’s soul and disco sound coupled with contemporary musical styling blends exquisitely across the frequency range with the vocals being well-compressed yet allowing the allotted headroom to replay these songs at high volumes without distortion or noise. Know Wisdom, for its clearly Urban-rooted sound, would be an excellent fit across a very wide range of radio format interests, from Urban, Pop, or Adult Contemporary this album features those infectious choruses, brilliant performances, and clear, defined sound radio would swoon over. The replayability of each track makes Know Wisdom a very enjoyable album and a must for any playlist featuring song vocals and expert instrumentation.

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