Never Retallack | Entertainment Editor
Leave behind any expectations of what music should be — Hobo Johnson’s album “The Fall of Hobo Johnson,” released on Sep. 13, delivers unique songs that go against the idea of what musicians should create.
Johnson is often perceived as a rapper, despite saying in his song “Peach Scone” on his previous album “The Rise of Hobo Johnson” that, “people like to say I’m a rapper, I’m actually not.”
The thing about Johnson is that his music is so different from what is popular that people struggle to define who he is — I’d argue that his music is essentially spoken poetry with back up vocals and instruments.
In his new album, Johnson cleverly incorporates a broad scheme of themes into his songs, from jabbing at the shallowness of media, the vicious cycle of mankind, an anthem of how ugly he is and even a song all about the Subaru Crosstrek XV.
Beginning his album with “Typical Story” was a shock to many fans, myself included, as it was a lot different than the music he had previously released. It felt almost too put together to relate to his usually chaotic music.
His album transitions into a more humorous and chaotic style. His song “You & the Cockroach” essentially picks apart how humans are scared of dying and that leads to problematic solutions, and he even discusses — without naming names — that President Donald Trump will cause Supreme Leader Kim Jung-Un to launch missiles.
His song “Ode to Justin Bieber,” featuring Jmsey and Jack Shoot, took a stab at how superficial the world is, and his frustrations with not being as popular as Bieber, saying that it doesn’t make sense how horribly Bieber can treat others and still thrive in society.
Johnson’s last song on the 12 song album, “I Want a Dog,” is an interesting play on the American Dream of wanting a happy family, but also the unrealistic expectation for every aspect of life to be exceptional. He sings that he just wants a dog and a family, but that he also wishes his dog could talk and his son would be a prodigy.
An interesting detail arose when comparing his two albums. Johnson’s 2017 album cover for “The Rise of Hobo Johnson” features a drawing of him looking upwards, but in black and white. His 2019 album cover, “The Fall of Hobo Johnson” depicts him staring down, but he is awash in blues and his hair is sprouting colorful flowers. I am unsure if this was meant to contradict the name of his albums, because the cover for his second album somehow speaks of a more positive idea, while his first album cover seems devoid of emotion and empty.
Overall rating: Johnson’s new album was a rollercoaster of emotion; it did not simply keep one tone throughout. Instead, it switched tones from upbeat to humorous to introspective, all delivered with interesting beats and passionate spoken word. I highly recommend this album to anyone needing pump up music and craving music that’s a little different.
Contact the author at Howlentertainment@wou.edu
Photo courtesy of Warner Records Press
