Singles + EPs

Single Review: Johnny Panic

[Single: The Rebel]
[Label: Repeat Records]

Johnny Panic’s history reads like a Hollywood screenplay, plagued by hospitalisations, breakdowns and cage fighting (no, seriously), and yet here they are at last with new single ‘The Rebel’ from last October’s release ‘The Good Fight’.

There’s a definite sunshine feel about the crunchy guitars, as they dive into the bouncy intro riff, but the warmth certainly doesn’t break through into the lyrical content. There’s a disturbing look at the talk-show generation of young single mothers, stoners on job-seeker’s and legions raised on the teachings of Jeremy Kyle. At all times toe-tappingly catchy, it’s a perfect balance of chart-friendly music and genuinely relevant content.

Its main weakness is that it all sounds a little bit… well…. done. There’s a pop-punk-meets-grunge feel which sounds decidedly 90s and there’s always a nagging feeling that they could be just a little more progressive. I’ve no doubt this would’ve charted in the top ten in 1998, but music has moved on a lot in 10 years. In the arena of rock’n'roll being on the cutting edge is vital and this offering, unfortunately, isn’t quite sharp enough.

You can catch Johnny Panic live at these gigs:
14 Jun - The Claremont, West Byfleet
21 Jun - Ikestock, Ashford
24 Jul - 12 Bar, Swindon
26 Jul - Monto Water Rats, London
27 Jul - The Vic Biker Bar, Coalville
28 Jul - The Venue, Derby
30 Jul - Voodoo Lounge, Plymouth

For fans of: Feeder, The Foo Fighters, Green Day
Band links = Johnny Panic

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Tags: single, cd, johnny panic, rebel, review

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