John The Conqueror - The Good Life
by Dave Goodwin
published: 27 / 2 / 2014
Label:
Alive Naturalsound
Format: CD
intro
Upbeat combination of southern rock, punk, blues and soul on second album from Mississipi trio, John the Conqueror
John the Conqueror apparently took its initial beginnings when Pierre Moore was taught to play guitar in the back of his father’s Mississipi repair shop by an old vagrant that he had befriended. In December 2010, Mike Gardner sold his bass and bought a drum kit. Pierre bought a cheap microphone and plugged it into a practice amp. Within weeks of forming their two-piece juke group, they met Ryan Lynn. The friendship came immediately, and once Ryan picked up the bass the music quickly followed. After three months, they chose the name of the folkloric slave hero, John the Conqueror, and took to the stage playing their own blend of southern rock, punk, blues and soul. Patrick Boisell, the head of Alive Naturalsound Records, signed them after seeing a video of the first song they’d written, ‘Ain’t Comin Home’. Then came their October 2012 self-titled release. Now the trio have returned with their second album, ‘The Good Life’. Carrying on from where they left off with the last album, the trio have become a little more upbeat with themselves. ‘The Good Life’ has the same stripped down edge and maintains the Fairfield Four low and melancholic harmonies which rewind you to the heat and dusty road of the first album. It is all, however, a little more polished. A perfect example of this is the great slow burner ‘Lets Burn Down the Cornfield’. This is a masterpiece of guitar blues, but also finds the band taking further little steps into unchartered territory. ‘Road to Bayport’ is equally as strong and finds Pierre tempted by another man's girl ("What was I supposed to do?/I got the blues on the Road to Bayport”) ‘You Don’t Know’ is a faster affair with some slower riffs stuck in for good measure. It slows down for ‘John Doe’ and ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’, and finishes with the heavier ‘She Said’. This magical trio from the Mississippi will hopefully now take to the road and visit every town and city they can. They are a band of exceptional quality.
Track Listing:-
1 Get Em'2 Mississippi Drinkin'
3 Waking Up to You
4 What Am I Gonna Do
5 Golden Rule
6 Let's Burn Down the Cornfield
7 Road to Bayport
8 You Don't Know
9 John Doe
10 Daddy's Little Girl
11 She Said
Band Links:-
http://www.johntheconqueror.com/https://twitter.com/jtcband
https://www.facebook.com/JohntheConquerorBand/
Label Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/AliveNaturalsoundRecordshttp://www.alive-records.com/
https://twitter.com/AliveRecords
https://instagram.com/alivenaturalsound/
https://www.youtube.com/user/JIMalive1
bandcamp
reviews |
John The Conqueror (2013) |
Breathtaking blues on debut album from Mississippi-based trio, John the Conqueror |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesPhilip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Deep Purple - =1
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Popstar - Obscene
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart