Search - Johnathan Rice :: Trouble Is Real

Is it just me...

Billie Fitzgerald | 08/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, I don't understand why Johnathan Rice isn't receiving more attention and praise, he's amazing!

Yet, I can't help but hear an overbearing John Mayer quality in his voice. If John Mayer weren't as produced and afraid of taking chances (by the way, I'm a huge fan of his, so this is not meant to down play him at all), he would be Johnathan Rice, if not lyrically, vocally.

Lyrically, Johnathan is very mature and thought provoking.

I hope his career goes far because he has the talent to go as far as he wants."

Lovely, with a few flaws.

C. E McEwen | Wilmette, IL | 06/18/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first thing that is obvious about Johnathan Rice is that he has a lovely and distinctive voice. It is incredibly deep and rich without suffering from the crackling or shrillness that plague other distinctive voices. He's like if Bob Dylan had a smoother voice.



There are a lot of beautiful songs on this album, "Mid November" (also the Short Songs For Strings which blends with it), "The Acrobat," "City on Fire," and "Break So Easy" are my personal favorites, both being folk ballads that are wonderfully uplifting, well written and melodic. They both show his great potential, but some of the other tracks a much less spectacular. "Kiss Me Goodbye," "So Sweet," "Leave the Light On," and "Salvation Day" are pleasing upbeat rock tunes that bear a certain amount of originality and make up the group of songs I'd rank as my second favorite. "Lady Memphis" is a foray into country/blues that suffers from trying to be a little too gritty and "real", which is a problem that "I Wouldn't Miss it for the World" and "Behind the Frontlines" suffer from as well. However, in terms of esoteric and truly gritty styling, I love "Put me in Your Holy War," an all too short Americana style song. "My Mother's Son" would be a nice folk ballad, if it didn't have an overbearing orchestral background. "Stay at Home" was another track with an overbearing background, this one being in the cirsusy vein with odd trumpets and a children's chorus.



Rice has some really good songs here, but others could use some tweaking. I certainly have enjoyed listening to it, as the best songs here certainly are really very good."

Who?

Barbara Kunzi | 01/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found Jonathan Rice quite accidentally in the college radio station...and I like having my own little secret. He is now one of my favorite artists. He receives sero publicity as far as I can tell, but songs like "Acrobat," and "Lady Memphis" sound like Indie sleeper hits to me. Once he breaks on the music scene, he'll fly off the shelves."