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Johnny Rev

Not Your Scene (2003)
self-released

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Brian
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on August 13th 2004

DISCLAIMER: There are occasional cases where I have a difficult time describing the music contained with an album, but the music contained within is so inherently bad that I don’t even put effort into a description. Bear with me.

Remember when pop-punk bands just about everyone on punknews hates used to play really mediocre punk rock? No? Oh, well in that case, let me give you some quick examples. When Yellowcard had their old vocalist, they came out with two full-lengths that both sounded like a third-rate Bigwig with violins. Mest, on their little known Mo Money, Mo 40z, played a sped-up, more raw version of their current style, albeit still poppy in places. Johnny Rev sounds exactly like they’re in this “first stage” of their career. Very underdeveloped, but still very crappy. And yes, I’m well aware I’ve already used the “early in a pop-punk band’s career” comparison.

I’m never going to figure out how they got Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio, Duvall, The Lawrence Arms) to produce this.

In the liner notes, apparently the twenty-second long “30” has “lyrics too juvenile to print,” but the very next track, “Fault Line,” goes “fucked up, too much, I’m getting sick of this life, no lie. Everything goes downhill, and everything is wrong when it comes to you and everything is fucked. What can I say?” Fine pieces of delicate, printable genius if I do say so myself.

They sort of flop between a slightly harder version of pop-punk and pseudo-punk rock, with some obnoxious-sounding vocal work. But this EP is seriously so boring and plain in an indescribable way that if I were typing up a description on the spot, you’d need fucking PacMan to eat up the trails of ellipses I’d be leaving.

MP3 CLIP
Shallows

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Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

i think johnny rev rocks

JohnnyRev99 (January 31, 2005)

Hey, Robert from Johnny Rev, here. Since this guy gave us a really awesome review on our first EP, I figured I would update this space consistently to allow other people and Brian to hear our newer material. We are currently recording a brand new full-length record entitled, Hate Me Till Morning. Check out some of the new tracks at www.purevolume.com/johnnyrev. Take care.

Anonymous (January 25, 2005)

Good band, cool guys.

Everyone, please, grow up.

Anonymous (January 24, 2005)

I love these guys!

Anonymous (August 25, 2004)

just because they this guy gave them a bad review, you people go with the flow?. at least they are doing something worthwile. Don't be suprised if they go where you thought, they wouldn't

Anonymous (August 20, 2004)

The guys in the band are cute though :)

Anonymous (August 20, 2004)

This shit is hilarious. I actually read the other reviews from this reviewer and they are nothing like this record. How can you give a shit review to a record that isn't similar to your musical preference. Do you like guys? You seem a little sensitive :)

Anonymous (August 20, 2004)

Thank you to the one who noticed that inagreenadevito didn't site specific examples. Also, it seems odd that this band goes a year after the release of this album, and doesn't get one remotely bad review(by critics in Chicago no less). But miraculously, after they lose their sore drummer gone guitarist and rythmless bassist, they get a terrible review?? Well hell.. whose dick do I have to suck to get a "crappy" review written? Also, spell check wouldn't have hurt. Besides, all the guitar parts for that album were written by the children of the United Way, so cut them some slack. Your momma!!

Anonymous (August 19, 2004)

this whole thing is fucking hilarious.

except this band.

they are just fucking sad.

-!Greenvandal!

Anonymous (August 19, 2004)

The unintelligent moron who wrote this review is fucking stupid that he didn't once go into any specifics of the release. He basically said "uh...this EP sucks" or "this EP is boring". Why Punknews.org would staff someone who is so childish is beyond me. How did these guys get Matt Allison to produce this EP? Uh....I think they paid him like every other band does....douche bag. I didn't care for the release myself, but I can't wait till this band gets signed because they will probably get better as their career progresses. Not mention there are a lot of shitty bands signed to indie and major labels. Review with some intelligence, little girl.

Anonymous (August 18, 2004)

i saw them live and they sound way better that way. the ep is okay, i guess. i would like to hear some new material. you guys should give em a break, they are a young band.

Anonymous (August 17, 2004)

Damn that was bad i made it to the part when he tried to scream then hit close very quickly

~exploitedyouth~

Anonymous (August 17, 2004)

what just happened? what is real?