Johan

(Spin Art)
by Katy Shea

The Netherlands Rock! Well, not exactly, but they can sure write some mean pop tunes. All the requisite jangliness and Sweetness (as in Matthew) without too much innovation or chance taking. The single, “Everybody Knows,” is decidedly the best of the bunch with a tangible melodic push that grabs you loosely and comfortably, but nobody’s really aroused, dig? Agreeable, and not at all aggressive, Johan serves up mildly powerful pop that is catchy enough, even upon first listen, to warrant interest, but the payoff is cheap. The safe pop path the band takes becomes less engaging and more background noise, albeit very pleasant background noise. Rock with a condom.
(PO Box 1798 New York, NY 10156)