Freedy Johnston
Never Home
[Elektra]
Rating: 7.2
Just like other artists of his caliber, Freedy once released an incredibly
powerful album that was hailed by critics and actually even bought by those
in the know. The album was called Can You Fly and it ruled.
In 1994, Johnston followed up his indie- label masterpiece with the Elektra
release of the pretty good This Perfect World. While it was no
Can You Fly, it was a remarkable effort anyway. Its songs were
stark and brilliant with heart- wrenchingly sad lyrics such as "And these
pills won't even let me cry." It contained several tragic stories about
star- crossed lovers, murder, and regret.
Never Home is a good record, too, but it's a bit less good than
This Perfect World and a far cry from Can You Fly. The
songs are still as impressive lyrically, but the tragedy is completely
lost. It's his next album I'm concerned about.
-Ryan Schreiber