Music review: Johnnyswim 鈥� 鈥淕eorgica Pond鈥�
Following the success of 2014鈥檚 鈥淒iamonds,鈥� the latest effort from Johnnyswim is a comfortable blending of American folk, soul, blues and pop.
The husband-and-wife duo鈥檚 sophomore release contains 14 engaging tracks about the day-to-day journey of building strong and lasting relationship. Singer-songwriters Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez prove that they know their way around powerful lyrics that can evoke feelings of romance, comfort, and commitment.
鈥淪ummertime Romance鈥� is a charming love letter about the couple鈥檚 dedication to one another no matter what the situation might be around them with Sudano passionately confessing, 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e never been more at home/In a house or a hotel/I made my promise known/Before the very first church bell/So let鈥檚 take our time on this road.鈥�
The daughter of the late disco icon Donna Summer, Sudano proves she can captivate a crowd (just like her mother) with a soulful voice that radiates emotion and vulnerability.
The ballad 鈥淭ouching Heaven鈥� turns spiritual by delivering the ultimate expression of love with Ramirez declaring, 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got me touching heaven鈥� as a rousing choir sings, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e my hallelujah.鈥� Rejoice indeed.
With all the beautiful love songs housed on 鈥淕eorgica Pond,鈥� the one arrangement that truly stands out for me is the haunting 鈥淪ay Goodnight Instead.鈥� The heartbreaking track about hopelessly hanging on to a fading love is fueled by Sudano softly pleading, 鈥淒on鈥檛 say goodbye love, just say goodnight/Though I know you鈥檒l be gone by morning/I鈥檒l wake up pretend that we鈥檙e still alright.鈥� Sudan continues, 鈥淚鈥檒l plant all the daisies you gave to me/Here in this ground we鈥檝e been sharing/Oh, what a shame, what a pity it鈥檇 be/If our petals fell before theirs did.鈥� I guess I鈥檓 just a sucker for a sad song.
鈥淟onely Night in Georgia鈥� is a sultry slow burn punctuated by country legend Vince Gill鈥檚 skillful guitar playing.
The album curiously closes with a dreamy cover of Chris Isaak鈥檚 鈥淲icked Game鈥� as Sudano鈥檚 voice explicitly emphasizes an uncontrollable desire to be drawn into an obsessive love. Sudano and Ramirez make a stop in Pittsburgh on November 15 with an intimate performance at Mr. Smalls Theatre.