Search - Legends :: Facts and Figures (W/Dvd)

Still the hardest working man in pop music today....

M. Lohrke | Provo, UT | 06/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"i gotta admit, the legends newest album was surprising. the first two albums ('public radio' and 'up against the legends') were spot on imitation, er, odes, to early 80s british guitar bands. they were heavy on the studio effects, new order-esque guitar riffs, and moody atmosphere. they were also incredibly great albums. with three quality bands (acid house kings, club 8, and the legends), it'd be easy for johann to recycle ideas and get stagnant. that he never does is a testament to his songwriting chops.



on his new album, johann's trades his guitars prevelant on the legends' first two offering for keyboards and the resulting album, 'facts and figures,' sounds more like a club 8 record than a legends' record. it's almost an entirely synthesized album and had karolina's vocals appeared, it'd be easy to mistake it for a new club 8 album. for me, this is a beautiful thing as i've always had an affinity for synthesizers (all hail the mighty moog!). on 'facts and figures' johann channels early 80 synth bads like kraftwerk, gary number, depeche, and early OMD albums like 'organisation' and the eponymous l.p.



the songs are exactly what you'd expect them to be: infectious, bright (although there are several minor-chord masterpieces here, kids), well-executed and performed with a lot of vigor. he embellishes the songs with the exactly the right number of blips and bleeps. it's always interesting and never repetitive. i get the impression johann likes nothing better than to lock himself in the studio and pluck away and keyboards day and night. 'facts and figures' is full of great songs, namely 'play for today,' 'darling' (the most club 8-ish song of the lot), 'lucky star,' (no, not a cover of the madonna song), and 'another sunday,' (about the only song that smacks of 'public radio.').



if you're new to the johann angergard world, this is as good a place as any to start. although i have to warn you, once you've had a little johann, you're going to want a LOT more. there's perhaps no finer popsong writer than johann. 'facts and figures' is another feather in his cap."