JOHNNY LIMA - review added 22nd July 2009
Album Review: Livin' Out Loud (2009)
For fans of: Glam Rock... and Bon Jovi
Livin' Out Loud is Johnny Lima's 5th release and follows 2005's Version 1.2, a re-recording of his debut album. The man is better known these days as a producer, working with artists such as Diamond Lane and Freakshow (featuring a line-up including Frankie Banali and god-like bassist Tony Franklin).
The sound is a modern, respectable version of Poison mixed with Bon Jovi, Scandinavian pomp and old-fashioned sleaze. Johnny's vocals are refreshingly good. He has a grimy punk tone with a solid backbone of power. He can do sweet melodies justice, but he's best suited to a gravel-tinged trashy sound perfect for basement parties and driving too quickly with the hood down.
'All I Wanna Do' lets the album's intentions be known straight away. It's a brash song with no interest in subtlety or political correctness. You know what? It's all the better for it. If this had been released 20 years ago it would have had an outrageous spandex-orientated video full of scantily clad nubiles. 'Wildflower' is arguably more understated, but all is relative. By most accounts it's still a loud punky glam track with the sort of balls you normally find on a particularly masculine rhinoceros.
'Hate To Love' is a rocking anti-ballad with a wonderful sound and anthemic nature. It could have done with being more aggressive and less harmonized, but it's still a memorable track nonetheless. 'I'm On Fire' is a touch safe for my liking but still rocks. The sentimental hook-laden 'Somebody to Love' is thoroughly awesome however. It has a similar feeling to tracks from Def Leppard's X album, without being strangely irritating.
'Caught in the Middle' tears your speakers a new one. It's such a smutty song it's hard to listen to without a dirty smile on your face - definitely another song that would benefit from a naughty video. 'Gimme Some Rock, So I Can Roll' has a great title and brilliant lyrics. Anything that mentions Amy Winehouse in a derogatory fashion is fine by me.
'Livin Out Loud' takes time to get going but has a chorus so massive you could hollow it out and park your car in there. It's got a great party atmosphere and demands to be pumped... volume wise at least. 'Still Waiting for You' is a pleasantly characterful song with a Southern-rock/country tinged edge. The chorus is modern Bon Jovi-ish and the guitar soloing is as chic as a pimp in a long jacket and muppet skin hat. 'Long Way Down' has hints of Bon Jovi too. It's a brilliant slow hard rocking song that's sadly over before it's begun.
'Hard to Say Goodbye' is a dramatic ballad with a filmscore-feel. It's a great track that hits most of the right spots and only a few of the wrong ones. Final track ''til Love Is Gone' is another slow and hard hitting song that closes the album in style. You could argue it's a touch whine-fuelled, but there's no arguing it'll stick in your mind like a well aimed battle axe.
Livin' Out Loud is a stunning album with tonnes of big choruses and top-notch performances. It's up there with Bai Bang's recent release for party album of the year. Just don't let the fact it turns into a Bon Jovi album at the end put you off...
Check out... How much Johnny Lima sounds like Johnny Bonny Jovi towards the end.
Track List:
1. All I Wanna Do
2. Wildflower
3. Hate to Love You
4. I'm On Fire
5. Somebody to Love
6. Caught in the Middle
7. Gimme Some Rock, So I Can Roll
8. Livin' Out Loud
9. Still Waiting for You
10. Long Way Down
11. Hard to Say Goodbye
12. 'til Love Is Gone
Artist's website(s): Johnny Lima , MySpace
