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Home to Roast

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There’s something genuinely human about the way the harmonica strolls along with guitar accompaniment in Jesse W. Johnson’s, “The Hermit,” a song that broods on how life slowly wears down your grasp on reality. In his debut album, Home to Roast, Johnson’s rock, grime and folk repertoire speaks in many tongues and tones to a wide audience. Most of all, Johnson does something not so common today: telling a story. The album begins strong with “Strawman,” which features a staple guitar bass line and accompanying violin, under a vocal melody that is neither rushed nor awkward but instead comfortably intimate. In this manner, all of Johnson’s songs let the listener unwind to a narration that’s not overdone by melodrama. The album’s feature song “Home to Roast” opens in a jazzy bass and drum beat echo, slowing to a dirge like pace. This song represents a pivot in the album, both in the singer’s reminiscences and in the faster rhythms in the later part of the album, such as in “My Moonshine Shoes.” It’s Johnson’s thoughtful word choice in his music that helps the listener personalize each song, leaving behind an enjoyable experience. Home to Roast is now available on CDBABY and iTunes.