Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:02
Size: 126.0 MB
Styles: Funky blues
Year: 2005
Art: Front
[3:27] 1. Please Don't Go
[3:37] 2. Brown's Line
[2:22] 3. Ride & Roll
[5:37] 4. Angel Of Mercy
[2:50] 5. Watcha Gonna Do
[4:12] 6. Walking To Jerusalem
[4:08] 7. Long Gone Train
[4:40] 8. I Heard A Rumour
[4:05] 9. Mad At Me
[5:00] 10. Shake 'em On Down
[3:40] 11. Mimico Bus
[6:02] 12. Junko Partner
[5:16] 13. I Like Women
Ride & Roll,the exceptional release by The Johnny Max Band, is their most fully realized one to date. There are powerful performances and great material galore that'll hook the most jaundiced listener from the get-go. Part of the credit is due to the live-off the floor production at Liquid Toronto, giving everything a spontaneous immediate feel. Johnny Max & Co. ride and roll their way toward an explosive 13 track set, one that's deliciously raw and always fun to listen to. A smokin' mixture of hard edged Blues,Stax/Volt saturated Soul and classic Rhythm & Blues. Johnny's facility for uncovering the quirkiness in everyday situations is evident in such endearing delicacies as Brown's Line and Mimico Bus. Topicality, colourful imagery and delightful insights, meaning they'll gladden the hearts of the most cynical amongst us.
Ride And Roll
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:13
Size: 87.5 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front
[3:32] 1. Couldn't Happen To A Nicer Guy
[4:38] 2. Blind Leading The Blind
[4:18] 3. (I'm Your) 911
[4:27] 4. Little Yellow Dress
[3:00] 5. I'm Broke
[3:17] 6. I Wish I Could Write You A Love Song
[3:53] 7. Roadhouse Soul
[4:23] 8. Lend A Helping Hand
[3:30] 9. Time Well Wasted
[3:11] 10. We've Been Together For Such A Long Time
A Johnny Max Band performance has always proven to be a hugely entertaining rockin’ and reelin’ event featuring great music punctuated with a good dose of humour. Over the course of 6 critically acclaimed and commercially accepted releases, Max and his partners have succeeded in bringing the musical goods and charm of their live shows into their studio work as well. The tradition endures on arguably Max’s best release to date, Roadhouse Soul.
Max, long a practitioner of sidestepping the accepted and confining boundaries of traditional blues, continues to stay true to his musical vision on this outing. That vision is a swampy blend of blues and R&B, or “Roadhouse Soul” as he calls it, that borrows more from R&B found south of the Mason Dixon line than it does from traditional blues. But the real magic is that Max can take the various influences – and there are a few of them here – and distill them to take you through the bumps and the grinds of a varied musical landscape.
The 10 originals spotlight all of the elements that provide Roadhouse Soul its enduring appeal: straightforward vocals, insightful songwriting, tight ensemble playing, and that unmistakable swing that keeps your body moving. Of note is the title track, a driving, unabashed, all out rocker complete with a frat boy chorus that just invites you to sing along. But don’t write off the entire collection as a one trick guitar driven effort or your sensibilities will be shaken with numbers displaying different styles and intonations that provide both an emotional and creative depth. Namely: Americana Pop (“Lend A Helping Hand”), Uptown Funk (“I’m Your 9-1-1”), a Tom Waits infused ballad (“I Wish I Could Write You A Love Song”), and Cajun Jazz (“We’ve Been Together For Such A Long Time”).
Primary songwriters are Johnny Max and Kevin Vienneau who also double as producers of the disc. And all is laid down by Max’s fine band: Kevin Vienneau (guitars, mandolin, & vocals), Rob Gusevs (keys), Russ Boswell (bass), Jim Casson (drums), Quisha Wint (background vocals).
Max, long a practitioner of sidestepping the accepted and confining boundaries of traditional blues, continues to stay true to his musical vision on this outing. That vision is a swampy blend of blues and R&B, or “Roadhouse Soul” as he calls it, that borrows more from R&B found south of the Mason Dixon line than it does from traditional blues. But the real magic is that Max can take the various influences – and there are a few of them here – and distill them to take you through the bumps and the grinds of a varied musical landscape.
The 10 originals spotlight all of the elements that provide Roadhouse Soul its enduring appeal: straightforward vocals, insightful songwriting, tight ensemble playing, and that unmistakable swing that keeps your body moving. Of note is the title track, a driving, unabashed, all out rocker complete with a frat boy chorus that just invites you to sing along. But don’t write off the entire collection as a one trick guitar driven effort or your sensibilities will be shaken with numbers displaying different styles and intonations that provide both an emotional and creative depth. Namely: Americana Pop (“Lend A Helping Hand”), Uptown Funk (“I’m Your 9-1-1”), a Tom Waits infused ballad (“I Wish I Could Write You A Love Song”), and Cajun Jazz (“We’ve Been Together For Such A Long Time”).
Primary songwriters are Johnny Max and Kevin Vienneau who also double as producers of the disc. And all is laid down by Max’s fine band: Kevin Vienneau (guitars, mandolin, & vocals), Rob Gusevs (keys), Russ Boswell (bass), Jim Casson (drums), Quisha Wint (background vocals).
Roadhouse Soul