15
1999 ∙ Idol ∙ Alt Country
As the album starts, the homemade recording and finger-plucked acoustic guitar made my eyebrows perk up at the GBV vibe. It then settles into a mellow vibe of understated, folksy alt-rock. While there is an occasional upbeat track that will recall GBV, most of the tunes here are pretty slow and heartfelt. I tend to like Will Johnson when his stuff is a little less subdued and a little more soaring, but this collection of little songs is satisfactory for what it is. I would probably check out Love You Just the Same or All the Falsest Hearts Can Try if you’re interested in Centro-Matic, but this is a good album to pick up if you want to see the softer, buzzier side of Mr. Johnson.
