Johnny Foreigner - Grace And The Bigger Picture (Album Review)

'Grace And The Bigger Picture' is the second album from Birmingham based noise-pop threesome 'Johnny Foreigner'. After a busy, busy 2008 releasing their brilliantly engeric debut 'Waited Up Til' It Was Light' and touring all over the shop, the trio went pretty much straight back into the studio and in a matter of days conceived this cracking set of indierockpop belters. In terms of the bands sound, not much has changed; its still all girl/boy vocals, intricate guitar twiddles and the odd keyboard tinkle all delivered with alot of melody, harmony as well as a bucket load of engergy and punk spirit. However the production on this record has a much more raw, punkier feel to it (to that of the slightly more polished, american-rock tones of their debut)which perfectly represents the band's live sound. This particually shines on some of the more rockier moments on the album such as recent singles 'Criminals' and 'Some Summers' as well as the straight up punk-rock-pop sounds of 'Ghost The Festivals' and 'Kingston Called, They Want Their Lost Youth Back'. There are really cool little ideas used on some of the more 'mellowier' moments on the record such as the lovely 36 second acoustic interlude '(graces)' and 'I'llchoosemysideandshutup, Alright' which is beautifully stripped down to just guitars and female vocals but the wall of noise guitars and crashing drums come in for a spine tingling ending. As an album, this is a really fresh sounding record that has alot of idea's and too many moments of rockpop genius to mention. I think its sheer engery and passion of this band that really shines through which is why I seem to beem everytime I hear this album. Don't know about you, but I think Johnny Foreigner are definitely seeing the bigger picture, lets hope their future is bright one!

Rating: 9.5/10

Download: I Woke Up On A Beach In Aberystwyth/ Kingston Called, They Want Their Lost Youth Back / The Coast Was Always Clear / Dark Harbourzz

'Grace And The Bigger Picture' is out now in all good record stores and on all online and digitial retailers via Best Before records!

Please check out http://www.myspace.com/johnnyforeigner for more details on the band and so on.