Johnny Lucas  - New Album "Attention"

 Johnny Lucas Attention CD/Download    

Johnny Lucas is, in his own words, a musical bloke from Warrington who, due to the area he is from is naturally drawn to a sound between The Beatles and Oasis. He has been addicted to song writing for a long time and has been a professional musician for the last 7 years. Working as a rock singer and guitarist and have spent many years working hard in rock bands. Now, as Johnny explains, "I've reached a point in my life where I want to see what I can do on my own. I recently re-branded myself as an acoustic indie-pop singer/songwriter (or something in that neck of the woods) and I've written an album called "Life Design." The album has a tongue-in-cheek element about it but there's a lot of serious themes running throughout it too. It's influenced by English artists such as The Beatles, David Bowie, The Police and has a strong Brit Pop sound, with my own modern stamp on it, and I like to belt out big choruses and quirky melodies as well. I aim to be down to earth and tell it how it is through my music, so rather than being a rock star, I'm more someone you'd have a pint with down the pub."

And so it that we get this new Offering from the man packaged well in CD format sporting a great portrait on the rear. All the songs, 12 in all, are written and performed by Johnny and also produced by him too.

Track listing;  Attention, My heart lies, Wishing away,  Living today, Life Design, Kelly, It keeps me alive, The purpose, Ticking, The day I ran away, Astroturf mountain, Something better.

The Bowie influence becomes apparent early on in the first and title track "Attention" as he does sound quite Bowie-ish on certain lines. A mid tempo style pop tune "Attention" drifts in to the cracking little number "My heart Lies" which has hand clap persuasions in it and defies you not to get your feet into gear.

"Wishing Away" does exactly what it says on the tin. All about the way people want to move on faster than they can cope with. "Living Today" is another up beater which does as it says on the tin also. Again concentrating on life in today's society, trying to get on and make a living "sometimes it can get to much, it can get too much you know it can baby, sometimes it can get too much,  it can get too much, I know it has baby" but our Johnny's not letting anything get in his away alright.

"Life Design" is a heavier affair but still retains the model pop melody that seems to run through this well put together album. "Kelly" also a bit grittier, gives our hero a chance to show off his guitar skills with another Bowie-esque vocal, while "It keeps me alive" leans a little towards his Beatles influence. "The Purpose" starts out as man with guitar but quickly sets out its stall with some wonderful strings, for me one of the strongest tracks on the album, letting Lucas show off his soaring vocals. Good stuff. "Ticking" starts off, funnily enough, ticking. It's all about Johnny's theme of life again this time how life is just ticking along, but to what conclusion?

"The Day I Ran Away" is where we've all been at some stage of our lives. Whether it's from a failed relationship or something else a little deeper, this is another of the stronger tracks with good use of synth in the background. "Astroturf Mountain" is the melodic penultimate leading us to the last "Something Better" which changes like the wind in places and lends itself again to that Bowie feel.

All in all a good pop album that should do more than just sit on iTunes, indeed its already picking up rave reviews. There's enough hooks and meanings hidden in here to stretch the debut long into next year when we hope to get another slice of Johnny's pie.

The date of Johnny's next big gig is the 21st of Oct at the Leicester Square Theatre starting at 5pm. The event is called The next big Thing and it's in support of The British Heart Foundation.

DG