Peter C. Johnson

How it took singer/songwriter Peter C. Johnson 20 years to record his follow-up to 1978's self-titled release will never be known, but if the enduring charm of Bloodshot is the result of an extended gestation period, then it's possible that more artists should take such vacations. A varied set of alternately introspective, world-weary, and bucolic songs, Johnson is a veritable fount of observational wisdom and literate cynicism. Whether punching holes in the American mixing pot with "Statue of Liberty" or dissecting the ephemeral nature of modern American life around a swirling swamp rock groove ("Champions of the Tribe"), Johnson presents himself as a creaky, sage troubadour, ready to answer every question with another. Still, never allowing himself to get bogged down in postmodern truisms, Johnson permits himself to rock innocently with the Lou Reed-ish "Why Call Me" and a triumvirate of dancehall country numbers that sound like a perfect soundtrack for some burned-out honky tonk. The coda provided by the crackling "Joining the Marines," recorded in 1975, gives evidence to just how many cigarettes he's smoked since, as his once mellow croon has given way to a weathered Dylan-esque rasp, lending even more authority to his songs of modern love and loss. ~ Matt Fink, All Music Guide