Search - Johnny Seven :: Complicated Mind

THE LIVING SOULS OF ROCK 'N' ROLL

R. A. Van Vleet | New York | 03/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here we have a band that gives evidence that the original concept of rock 'n' roll music has gone to hell, because, if it didn't, this act would have had a string of hits destined to have a perrenial run on radio stations nation-wide. Johnny Seven is this magical lineup of vagabond musicians that when put together create a sound that comes straight from the heart and is more uplifting, moving and ballsy than anything the music industry could ever pump out. Johnny Seven himself is a no holds barred type of songwriter and frontman that is perhaps one of the only performers that still pays attention to social issues and isn't afraid of being so damn P.C. or NOT trendy.Complicated Mind, the band's 3rd release is testamnet to the power this band can bring about. John takes his turns at bashing the Pope "The Pope Won't Leave Me Alone" and making a laughing disgrace of the state of Modern Day America with "The Teacher Went To Jail," and the ever rockin ultimate show stopper "Don't Shake the Baby," a track "loosely" based on the British au pare incident...and he puts it all out with some of the best word play going on these days such as: "In the castles of loneliness/ we're all kings and queens/ just an end without the means/ walking on empty/ running on full/ just another victim of the push and pull" To top everything off there's an awesome dark rockabilly style track "Suicide Johnny" and perhaps one of the most PERFECT songs that I've ever heard, "That's the Way." Seriously, amongst the millions of tracks that I've heard, I put this one up there with "Simple Twist of Fate" and Lou Reed's "Perfect Day," when it comes to bringing out such raw and true feeling. This disc is not for your typical "everyone." It's here for people who like to hear something with its own identity, that makes you listen, makes you dance and makes you crave to hear it time and time and again. Yes I love this band & I've introduced this disc to so many people who now feel the same way about them. if you buy this, you'll either toss it or, most likely, treasure it."

Johnny Seven

Salle-boy | 02/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Complicated Mind" follows on the heels of Johnny's 1997 gem "Joy and Sadness" and 1995's "Big Medicine." Those of us who've seen Johnny play like to think of him as New York City's best kept secret. I first caught Johnny Seven while having a few drinks on the Lower East Side. I was blown away. And I thought Lou Reed was street smart. This Bronx guy is to NYC like Springsteen is to NJ, just a little grittier. With this latest release I don't think Johnny is going to remain a secret much longer. This is what rock and roll was meant to sound like. Go Johnny Go!"

Johnny Seven: A Modern Van Gogh

Harlem River | New York | 02/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw Johnny Seven play about 7 years ago at an outdoor festival in the Bronx. I was blown away. I bought a CD on the spot. I couldn't believe a rock 'n roll band of such depth and character was "undiscovered." It doesn't take long to get hooked on their music, and I never thought my favorite group of all time would be one that 99.99% of people have never heard about. But if you check them out, you'll wonder, as I do whenever I pop in one of my Johnny Seven CDs, "Am I appreciating a modern day Van Gogh -- an artist that won't become famous until decades later?" Johnny Seven is that good."