Jonny Lives - Get Steady Review
by Kevin Wierzbicki
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Jonny Lives is a quartet out of New York City but in a way you can say that it is really just Jonny Dubowsky. I don't say that to slight his three band mates, but the bass player and guitarist have changed since this album was recorded, leaving only drummer Jon Weber as a constant. With that in mind it is obvious that Dubowsky could get his groove on fronting any batch of competent musicians. Jonny Lives has an affinity for late '70s power-poppers like the Knack and Greg Kihn and one of the best songs on Get Steady, "Cliché," could have slugged it out on the radio with "My Sharona" or Kihn's "Valerie." The song features some of Dubowsky's famous pals; Nick Valensi of the Strokes, Sammy James, Jr. of the Mooney Suzuki and Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne. Jonny Lives avoids two common traits that bog down a lot of NYC bands---tough guy posturing and cooler-than-thou attitude. Not everything here clicks but the lack of putting on airs makes it easy to forgive the band for a weaker number or two. Dubowsky calls "Do it Again" a "bedroom demo" and the song departs from the power-pop formula but it's one of the finest examples of songwriting and singing on Get Steady. This album is impressive enough but if Dubowsky ever decides to bring another songwriter into the band as a foil, watch out.Release Date: March 6, 2007
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Jonny Lives - Get Steady Label:Eleven Seven
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