I first checked out Johnny and the Razorblades when I met Johnny Razorblade himself at his recording studio. He actually records and produces my band, God Hates Unicorns, at his award-nominated spot, Razorblade Recordings. (Side note, the album he recorded and produced for us won 2nd best album of the year in the Pittsburgh City Paper best of 2022. He’s the real deal.) At any rate, I was extremely late to a party that had been raging for years. This punk / power pop prodigy is entirely DIY, but like I said, they aren’t going to find someone better than their lead singer/guitarist to put out their tracks.
My first honest reaction to Johnny and the Razorblades was, “Oh $h!t, this is REALLY fun”. I can’t imagine anyone who likes rock, pop, or good things in general wouldn’t like these guys. Their sound is timeless, and their skill level is through the roof. I was fortunate enough to get an early listen to their newest album, Line Up, and I’m here to tell you that you’re in for a real treat.
The 11 track album opens with an absolutely rockin’ intro that will have you playing air guitar in your car, which blends into track one called “Saturday Night”. Wow, talk about “Punk/Power Pop, this track would have had me screaming in high school, and it had me screaming even louder now. It’s about like, the most garbage boy in the whole world, and now I am in love with him. Everything is well-placed, well-timed, and hook-y as all get-out. Very sick guitar solo, to boot.
Then we get into track 3, “Too Cool To Rock”. It’s a quintessential rock song. “Black leather jacket man, yet I’m still cold.” That line makes me feel a lot cooler than I am. I am always physically cold though, so it’s accurate in that way.
Another track I have been obsessing over is “Runaway”. It comes in with this like, Stone Temple Pilots style riff that knocks your socks off at second one. The drum and bass in this one are perfect, too. Ugh, actually all of it is just, chef’s kiss. It’s an anthem you can shout along with.
I’m a big The Beach Boys (with Brian Wilson, of course) girl, so I am going to hype up the track “Broken Hearted” next. The harmonies, oh goodness the harmonies! The whole song, I am absolutely swooning! They are channeling that BB energy but with entirely their own twist. I really can’t get enough of it.
Then, after all this and more, they go and do a cover of “Dead Flowers” that I like even more than the first one. At this point, these guys are just showing off. That’s ok though. When you’re good, you’re good.
Johnny and the Razorblades Line Up will be available everywhere you find fine music on Friday, December 16th. I highly recommend you set a reminder and get this in your ears as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please feel free to bump their latest Christmas song cover (with guest vocals from some dingaling I’ve heard of):