Track Listing
1. Where Am I?
2. One Way Out
3. Way It Will Be / Too Far
4. Another Side
5. Circle
6. Eclipse
7. Left in the Dark
8. Hold the Reins
9. Say It's So
10. Overdrive
| Details | | Contributing Artists: | Barrett Martin, J Mascis, Mark Lanegan | | Producer: | John Agnello, Mike Johnson | | Distributor: | Alternative Dis. Alliance | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
Personnel: Mike Johnson (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, piano, organ, Mellotron, bass); Claudia Groom (slide guitar); David Krueger (violin); Dana Kletter (piano, background vocals); Barrett Martin (vibraphone, upright bass, tabla); J. Mascis (electric bass, drums, tympani); Leslie Hardy (electric bass); Dale Balenseifen (tambourine); Lenny Rennalls, Tiffany "Lil' Willie" Anders (background vocals); Mark Lanegan, J. Mascis.
Recorded at Ironwood and Bad Animals Studios, Seattle, Washington.
Why oh why is poor Mike Johnson so melancholy? Is it because he's really more eclectic than his involvement with Dinosaur Jr. usually lets him admit? Johnson's solo YEAR OF MONDAYS reveals his capacity for rich, haunting, often acoustic efforts that make Dinosaur's cranked-up electricity seem misplaced.
The album is full of weary, introspective sighs--the string section featured on "Where Am I?" mopes along, while the sarcastic boogie of "Circle" finds Johnson halfheartedly asking if he can ever get beyond his group of friends. On the other hand, the Neil Young-inspired feedback burst of "Overdrive" closes the album with Dinosaur's J. Mascis making a drum cameo, and acts as a reminder of Johnson's full-on electric capabilities.
Yet YEAR OF MONDAYS stands alone, outside of Dinosaur's shadow. While Johnson's overall reputation might be linked to current and former Dinosaur members like Mascis and Lou Barlow, his solo work puts him in the same league as the monarch of melancholia, Nick Drake.
Editorial Reviews
...Bassist Johnson's second solo outing [YEAR OF MONDAYS] is a gem, shines brighter than its busman's holiday context. His rainy daydream music (featuring Mascis on drums, and nearly as much violin as guitar) is remarkably assured...
Mojo (06/01/1996)
...impressively maudlin, all tumbling acoustic guitars, quivering strings and cheap, melancholy harmonies...
Melody Maker (03/23/1996)
8 (out of 10) - ...a richly romantic wallow in sorrow....violins slither mournfully, guitars clang doomily and saloon-bar pianos slosh around like half-empty bottles of bourbon....An autumnal gloomfest...
NME (04/20/1996)
3 Stars - Good - ...raises the question of why he's limiting himself to serving as Mascis' four string foil....a collection of simple but striking folk-rock songs in the mold of songwriter Leonard Cohen...
Rolling Stone (05/02/1996)
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