John John Brown

Like the cat that has nine lives, John John Brown can claim some excellent survival skills. “During the middle of the recording of The Road, I fell down a 75 foot well and survived because my guitar broke my fall,” he says by way of introduction. That’s either an ominous or fortuitous way to launch a debut album, depending on the way one views it. Happily, Brown has had his share of good fortune, most notably in the fact that he recently made it to the final round of the “New Folk” competition at the career-defining 2015 Kerrville Folk Festival. That was followed by a subsequent win at the 2016 South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. “Do you ever feel like nothing really matters?” he asks in the title track. Given the different set of circumstances, the answer may be obvious.

Regardless, The Road is one of those albums that suggests Brown’s talents have been stirring for some time. A supple and suggestive blend of astute Americana accompanied by a quiet, reflective glow, these ten songs offer up an air of quiet contemplation and wistful contentment. The easy shuffle of “The Road,” the gentle reflection of “Heartshine” (featuring soothing accompaniment from guest vocalist Laney Jones) and the lovely lament “On Our Own Again” provide an immediate embrace that strikes a satisfying chord from practically the first note on. Brown’s biographical narrative on “The Wind” suggests there’s some turmoil to temper the tranquility that’s mostly evident throughout, but regardless, The Road bodes well for Brown’s future trajectory. It will be well worth following him to see where that road leads. - No Depression

For folk singer John John Brown, sometimes life is as strange as the tall tales in his songs; while recording his debut album, The Road, he tumbled down a 75 foot well. His life was saved– quite literally– by music, when his acoustic guitar broke his fall. Though it’s clearly been a bumpy road (pun intended) to his first release, he’s already piqued the interest of critics and fans alike with his heartfelt, unique Americana compositions, making it to the final round of the “New Folk” competition at the 2015 Kerrville Folk Festival and winning the 2016 South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Contest.

Today, Elmore is premiering the video for “On My Own Again,” a duet with fellow singer/songwriter Laney Jones from his upcoming debut, which will be released on July 22nd. The track is a finely textured folk ballad, one that allows Brown’s vivid, emotional storytelling to shine. In it, he introduces us to two downtrodden, American characters, weaving their lives together in an unexpected way to ultimately soothe their heartache and affirm the redeeming, awesome power of love. It’s no wonder that the gentle, rasping waver of Brown’s vocals has garnered comparisons to Cat Stevens’, which are offset by Jones’ delicate higher register. The soaring wail of a string solo and the hum of a backing chorus deepen the song’s sentiment, set against a backdrop of old home movies and stills of the American landscape.

Though John John Brown mines a well-trodden genre and a familiar territory, traversing the working class towns and flea-bag motels of our big country, he forges his own Road, establishing himself as one of the more promising young names in folk music today along the way.

Starting June 24th, you can pre-order The Road on iTunes. Watch “On Our Own Again” below. - Elmore Magazine

John John Brown is as talented a songwriter as we’ve found in 2016. This album, The Road, is an absolute stunner from start to finish. It’s not every day that you’ll find someone with the kind of control, sense of melody, and beautiful purpose behind his songwriting. The rich depth to Brown’s vocal is highlighted by light tones from strings that pop and bristle along the top of each track. The existential, “I hope there’s a meaning to it all” needles through the entire album, keeping us all asking along while we sing along to the brilliant album.

The opening title track “The Road” gives a sense of questions and purpose. But the harmonica, strings, and vocals all connect perfectly. As much credit should go to the production team as to Brown himself. Rarely does such a busy folk song feel so genuinely balanced. The slower “Heartshine” featuring Laney Jones is more my speed, featuring the kind of high lonesome fiddles that hearken back to my ancestry. The depth of the guitar’s bass notes and Brown’s vocal dances in perfect step with Jones’s soprano. As it all comes together with poetic lyrics, the fiddle and picking still manage to steal the show – but let me tell you, it’s a beautiful show across the board.

Something about “Dust and Bones” just feels right to me. It’s a folk song for sure, but the upbeat rhythm makes it feel a bit more more complicated. The lyrics remind me a little of a mix of today’s Jeffrey Martin and yesteryear’s Simon and Garfunkel. It’s social commentary and disconcerting, but still intriguing. “On Our Own Again” brings Laney Jones back for another song, and she shines on this one. Providing an additional layer to the vocal, a much-needed high harmony, Jones accents the depths of Brown’s baritone nicely. The song tells a long, heart wrenching story that will put you in mind of someone like George Jones.

“Pull on Through” is an inspiring song full of energy and layered sounds. The acoustic guitar sounds great on this one. The upbeat rhythm again pushes the limits of the genre into a challenging and driving anthemic song. At the end of the day, though, it’s an encouragement to keep going despite difficult circumstances. “Live My Life for You” seems to carry a bit of a spiritual significance to it. There’s imagery of a dream, of personal purpose, and ultimately figuring out how we’re supposed to live and love in this life. It’s nicely put together, using the breadth of Brown’s baritone.

The final track “When I Die” feels a bit morbid, but the guitar work on it might be my favorite of the entire album. The opening is really stripped down and I’d appreciate a full album with that sound. But the way that Brown falls into his lower register that feels both comfortable and really familiar, yet I can’t put a name to who that sounds like. Brown really has a gift, though, and this “final chapter” on the album is appropriate. It really allows the album to “fade away.”

Fans of folk music will really enjoy John John Brown. He’s a true songwriter and the performance on the album is top quality. It’s a true delight and will contend for album of the year for me. - Ear to the Ground

John John Brown‘s The Road is brilliant, drawing heavily from traditional Appalachian sounds and modern folk revivalists to create 10 songs of back-porch folk that are fully realized in scope and yet casual in mood.

Brown’s dusky voice, an immaculate production job, and a deft arranging hand makes this duality possible. “Dust and Bones” pairs a laid-back percussion line with a spacious fingerpicking rhythm at the beginning, before introducing subtle bass work and two different organ sounds for color. Brown’s superbly comfortable vocal delivery caps off the song beautifully. Even from the first listen, it’s as familiar and lovely as a shirt you put on for the first time and immediately know it will be your favorite one.

“On Our Own” pulls the same trick: the yearning solo violin, distant pedal steel, and hushed background vocals accentuate a lyric set of loss and redemption beautifully. “The Wind” is about as ominous as Brown gets, creating a sense of adventurous danger via keening harmonica. The title track is a jubilant folk tune grounded in big, round bass and a huge chorus vocal melody. “Spirits in the Silence” and “What I Really Want to Do” are a bit more pop-oriented-folk, sort of like Counting Crows, Five for Fighting, or Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” Brown carefully crafts each tune to have individual elements that set the songs apart, yet never deviate from the overall chill experience.

This album is magnetic: it’s hard to stop listening once you start. You’ll know all the sounds on each of the songs in The Road, but they way Brown makes them come together is barely short of magic. It’s a rare artist that can make the familiar sound brand new and exciting; Brown is that artist. - Independent Clauses