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Dec 11, 2018 Calvin Johnson By Jordan J. Michael

Not the former beastly Detroit Lions’ wide receiver, Calvin Johnson; the other Calvin Johnson. The Pacific Northwest scenester weirdo (turned 56 on November 1) who has ran a label (K Records) for 36 years while being involved in many bands (Beat Happening, Cool Rays, The Go Team, The Halo Benders, and Dub Narcotic Sound System). Yeah, sounds like a lot of scene people we know that are tangled in many “projects.” But here’s the punch: Johnson’s fourth solo album, A Wonderful Beast, is a lethargic attempt at a slowcore dance album.

Oddness has always been Johnson’s appeal, especially with Beat Happening in the 1980s. Johnson’s music has a strange playfulness that non-fans might have trouble hearing. It’s kooky, towing the creep line. His last album, 2007’s Calvin Johnson & the Sons of the Soil, was complete with spoken word passages and rave-up “Tummy Hop,” recorded live at The Shop in Spokane, WA. A Wonderful Beast is more polished, probably because Johnson hired Patrick Carney, drummer of The Black Keys, for help with production and instrumentation. They holed up in Nashville’s Audio Eagle Studio with “Rock’ n’ Roll Will Never Die” as a basis. Carney’s girlfriend, Michelle Branch, sings barbarous three-part harmonies on three songs. What is happening, Mr. Johnson?

There’s a certain amount of respect due to artists who try new things. Johnson has been respected for decades, and will continue to be in the future. However, A Wonderful Beast is a peculiar, passive dance album that no one should feel the need to bother with. And the Carney-Branch influence is confusing. But, hey, it’s Calvin Johnson; are we really surprised? (www.krecs.com)

Author rating: 5/10