I've just listened to them for the first time ever, the four tracks up on last fm - at the risk of being tragically uncool, I really dislike it! It's obnoxious, hyperactive and twee, which, I appreciate, is what people must love about them, but I find it really grating. I'd rather listen to Bearsuit over JoFo or LC! any day...
I've tried, based on the astronomical hype on this site - lord, I've tried - but I just don't get it. It doesn't break any new ground for me. The shrill singing voices give me a headache and musically I don't see it as any different to, say, Sum 41. The comments about "lots of energy" are fine, but Scooter have that too. And don't get me wrong, I don't hate it for the hype - Battles and Burial, for instance, were hyped and I love both of them. Boat firmly missed.
i love seeing this band live, i love the e.p and the early singles... so was hugely looking forward to the album- got in a a couple of months ago, and although it is great, good production, songs are obviously as good as ever, i found i wasn't listening to it as much as i thought i would. Simply put, i think the band work better over a shorter span (gig/ep).. the sound is so frenetic that over a lp it gets, a little, well, one paced i guess. Perhaps in this day and age (mp3) it matters less, but to me it exposed a flaw that i hadn't previously noticed. My love is still huge, but now conditional. Something that i think goes unnoticed though, is how great the lyrics are... for a big group of us, having grown up in bands in and around the birmingham 'scene' (?!) they are poignant and beautiful, this band have broke my heart on more than one occasion. mumble mumble, yep, the record is pretty great, is what i'm saying.
8 at a push. had it for a while now, only really hennings and salt that i keep coming back to.
imo definately feels a bit one paced and some of the songs have pretty much become background music (as in they arent keeping my attention). its a great album, just not brilliant like a few people i know keep claiming.
But I got Kids In Glass Houses' album this morning too, and that's taking priority at the moment. JoFo's rating may improve once I get round to listening to that properly.
The rerecorded versions are much better than the originals. Looks like this and Frightened Rabbit will be fighting it out for album of the year so far.
Brilliant so far, know most of the songs already of course but I can't imagine getting tired of them.
Got it from HMV, wasn't even on the new release stand, just had to go find it alphabetically. Why is no one paying any attention to this, considering it's the best British debut for yonks? (To be fair to NME, they at least gave them a sizeable and favourable review).
but hopefully it'll be one of those word of mouth sleeper/grower albums and in 6 months we'll be complaining cos Edith Bowman is insincerely waxing lyrical about them on Radio 1..
i posted another thread about it. Bought the album then took it back to swap for errors as i didn't like it as much as i thought. Would get about a 6/10 for me, some promise in some of the tunes but it gets a little too samey for me and the vocals are irritating after a while. Also, i agree with what MrBones says below, that it's all a bit one paced, would've been nice to see less of the fast shouty stuff and a bit more mellow, like track 9 or something, the acoustic one.
Maybe i'll "get" them in a few months, but at the moment this is not on my favourite album's list of the year so far...sorry!
I prefer the EP version of "The End and Everything After" much more so than the LP version. However, is fucking fantastic. Of the few records I have heard from this year, Johnny Foreigner's debut is easily one of the best.
8/10
Cheers.
9/10
brilliant
9/10
best debut by a British band that i can remember. Near perfect.
8.5/10
alot of fun
i haven't heard it yet
Absolutely love it
and sent my copy to the wrong address!
Love it
9/10
Out of interest
does anyone not like it? Why?
9/10
wow
9/10
just so full of energy you can't help but love it. brilliant.
9/10
I love Alopecia.
I think it's alright
But it's not blown me out the water like you guys. 7/10 ?
On the basis of this thread
I've just listened to them for the first time ever, the four tracks up on last fm - at the risk of being tragically uncool, I really dislike it! It's obnoxious, hyperactive and twee, which, I appreciate, is what people must love about them, but I find it really grating. I'd rather listen to Bearsuit over JoFo or LC! any day...
5/10
I've tried, based on the astronomical hype on this site - lord, I've tried - but I just don't get it. It doesn't break any new ground for me. The shrill singing voices give me a headache and musically I don't see it as any different to, say, Sum 41. The comments about "lots of energy" are fine, but Scooter have that too. And don't get me wrong, I don't hate it for the hype - Battles and Burial, for instance, were hyped and I love both of them. Boat firmly missed.
That is all.
8/10
obviously they and los campesinos share a sound. The boards here generally side with JoFo. Who came first, the chicken (LC) or the egg (JoFo)?
i don't think they sound anything alike.
It's more the fact that they've played gigs togather, are around at the same time and probably have some of the same influences.
Meneguar
9/10
amzng.
i like it a lot, though in some ways not as much as i thought...
i love seeing this band live, i love the e.p and the early singles... so was hugely looking forward to the album- got in a a couple of months ago, and although it is great, good production, songs are obviously as good as ever, i found i wasn't listening to it as much as i thought i would. Simply put, i think the band work better over a shorter span (gig/ep).. the sound is so frenetic that over a lp it gets, a little, well, one paced i guess. Perhaps in this day and age (mp3) it matters less, but to me it exposed a flaw that i hadn't previously noticed. My love is still huge, but now conditional. Something that i think goes unnoticed though, is how great the lyrics are... for a big group of us, having grown up in bands in and around the birmingham 'scene' (?!) they are poignant and beautiful, this band have broke my heart on more than one occasion. mumble mumble, yep, the record is pretty great, is what i'm saying.
10/10
blown me away! saw them live friday, salt, pepper, spindarella sounded ace when played out! top guys as well.
It seems like quite a quiet release
It hasn't really been listed on any sites album releases this week.
thats because
it seems outside of DiS. they are pretty much unknown
The term JoFo is also pretty much alien to anyone else outside of DiS
The amount of people who refer to them as 'him' as well is comical!
Can't be helped though..
7/10
8 at a push. had it for a while now, only really hennings and salt that i keep coming back to.
imo definately feels a bit one paced and some of the songs have pretty much become background music (as in they arent keeping my attention). its a great album, just not brilliant like a few people i know keep claiming.
love the lyrics
it's nice to see...
that so many have gone out and bought the album today, on it's release!
7/10
But I got Kids In Glass Houses' album this morning too, and that's taking priority at the moment. JoFo's rating may improve once I get round to listening to that properly.
Near perfect
A true kick up the head of all tiresome UK indie guitar fluff.
6/10
Ok, but hardly groundbreaking. Do people on this board have shares in them or something?
It might be worth mentioning
that the thanks list includes "DiS, DiS people".
Hmmm..
I'm at work at the moment but hopefully my copy will be on the doormat :D
I hope its as good as everyone is saying.
Practically
Perfect :)
9/10 on first impressions.
The rerecorded versions are much better than the originals. Looks like this and Frightened Rabbit will be fighting it out for album of the year so far.
Just ripped it to laptop and am filling my ears right now!
Brilliant so far, know most of the songs already of course but I can't imagine getting tired of them.
Got it from HMV, wasn't even on the new release stand, just had to go find it alphabetically. Why is no one paying any attention to this, considering it's the best British debut for yonks? (To be fair to NME, they at least gave them a sizeable and favourable review).
9/10
cos they're not on a major label
but hopefully it'll be one of those word of mouth sleeper/grower albums and in 6 months we'll be complaining cos Edith Bowman is insincerely waxing lyrical about them on Radio 1..
I really like it
proper good joyful indie/rock goodness to make you smile :)
P.S. wonder when my competition winning signed copy will apear in the post DiS? Its been ages now :(
the liner notes
are so good! pick your favourite cover!
the photos on them make me wish i still lived in birmingham :(
i might go and steal this from hmv
i literally can't even afford to eat at the moment. The amount of times I could have got a copy off them too and didn't think.
I dont...
i posted another thread about it. Bought the album then took it back to swap for errors as i didn't like it as much as i thought. Would get about a 6/10 for me, some promise in some of the tunes but it gets a little too samey for me and the vocals are irritating after a while. Also, i agree with what MrBones says below, that it's all a bit one paced, would've been nice to see less of the fast shouty stuff and a bit more mellow, like track 9 or something, the acoustic one.
Maybe i'll "get" them in a few months, but at the moment this is not on my favourite album's list of the year so far...sorry!
I dont
get the hype. I don't like their music, i don't think they have much longevity. They will be forgotten in a couple of months. There, i said it.
...
I prefer the EP version of "The End and Everything After" much more so than the LP version. However, is fucking fantastic. Of the few records I have heard from this year, Johnny Foreigner's debut is easily one of the best.
its*
fucking fantastic.