Additional Information from Movie Mars
Product Description
Solo performer: Jonny Polonsky (vocals, electric & acoustic guitars).
Recorded at The Ground Round Sound Mobile Unit, Wilmette, Illinois.
There must be something in the air. First, Weezer usurps the Cars' skinny-tie, new-wave throne--in part, by having Ric Ocasek produce their debut. Now, enter Jonny Polonsky, latest in the line of pop whiz kids, whose debut will thrill anyone with a taste for Beach Boys-laced melodies and Pixies-styled guitar rave-ups.
Fittingly, Polonsky's music comes with a recommendation from head Pixie Frank Black, and it melds Black's shrieking mannerisms and Jonathan Richman's adenoidal chumminess. The cheesewhiz keyboards of "Love Lovely Love" even glide in magnificent Cars-cum-Wheezer melodic splendor.
But what makes Johnny Polonsky different is he did it all by himself. After completing the album with a pack of Black's sidemen, Polonsky shelved it and decided to record HI MY NAME IS JOHNNY by himself--as in, playing every instrument. It's almost maddening that anybody human could write, perform and record such a delicious pop banquet.
Power pop will never die. At least, it won't as long as whippersnappers like Jonny Polonsky are around to infuse it with the youth and exuberance he displays on his debut album, Hi My Name Is Jonny. Just 22 years old, Polonsky inundated his idol, Frank Black, with tapes of his music. Black was impressed enough to not only get Polonsky a record deal, but to produce his debut. The Black touch is apparent throughout the album, especially on tracks like "In My Mind" and "I Don't Know What to Dream at Night," both of which boast loud guitars, sharp pop hooks, and cute lyrics. Occasionally, Polonsky overdoes the quirkiness that makes his songs unique -- "Evil Scurvy Love" and "It's Good to Sleep" are a bit too silly for their own good. However, Polonsky's pop smarts create some terrific, catchy love songs like "Gone Away" and "Half Mind," which sound excited to exist. "Love Lovely Love" is instant gratification at its best, and "Truly Ugly and Dead Too" is as fun a put-down song as you're likely to hear. Too short at ten songs, Hi My Name Is Jonny makes Polonsky a name to remember. ~ Heather Phares
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