This Perfect World

A record with a title like "This Perfect World" can likely only be two things: a complete celebration of life, or a piece of art steeped in irony. In Johnson's case, it's the latter. He's written twelve accounts of peaceful melancholy, most often found in the form of detailed character sketches of folks whose lives are anything but perfect. One anonymous narrative voice muses about having a "bad reputation/and it isn't just talk talk talk." Another character, Evie, garners two nods with "Evie's Tears" and "Evie's Garden." Johnston's sound is very understated, similar to that of a Neil Young or Bob Dylan record. It's not a happy record, but in terms of sound, it's very relaxing and peaceful.

Given its timeframe (mid 1990's) it's an interesting footnote to a modern sound which never broke through like a grunge, ska, or bubblegum pop did. One can only wonder if such a songwriter would have been given his due acclaim. In the end, like all art, it's an artifact of particular time period and mood. In the context of the 1990's, it's some of the best music available from that decade, and some of the best music which unfairly never received its due praise. In a perfect world, an artist like Freedy Johnston isn't overlooked. In this one, it makes for a fine story of a fine singer-songwriter, and a fine album overlooked by so many.

I love the way this album takes off from the first song and then the lyrics really take hold of your heart. It is really catchy and the music just swirls around you catching you in each wave and pulling you in. Once you start listening there is no escape, you just want this music to keep playing. I could listen to the first song again and again! There is magic there.

"Cold Again" sounds like a song Sting would love to sing although there are so many added dimensions and a level of acoustic bliss I really liked. I could listen to this music without any words although the harmony between the voices fills out the spaces between the loneliness and isolation.

"Evie's Garden" really paints some beautiful pictures. This song was quite a surprise because at the start, you wouldn't imagine this song being included in this collection. I love the lyrics and longing for the past. This song seems to connect with the lyrics in Evie's Tears.

"In the middle of Evie's garden
In a simple iron chair
Wind's blowing and she is singing
Begs the moon to disappear."
~Evie's Tears

You will hear what you want or need to hear in these stories. A unique collection of stories washing across your mind in waves of music.

"Bring back the rain, we'll go walking..."

I once heard or read what "This Perfect World" was about:

I see her in your face
Hear her in your voice . . .
You think I'm made of stone.

Dying is the problem: "They say I soon will be gone away." Saying good-bye lasts longer than the person that song is about.

"Cold Again" is a bit complicated, musically, and lacks the warmth that wasn't obvious in the earlier songs, until they are compared to this projection of dejection. "Two Lovers Stop" is about jumping off a bridge together. "Two lovers stop their hearts, better than to be apart." I think he called this tenderness. "Across the Avenue" is more cheerful, though it is based on the illusion that he will actually meet someone who has gone away, but he still thinks he sees her across the avenue. Similarly, "Gone Like the Water" is about someone who has gone, but it rocks like a train along the riverbank heading for N.Y.C. This might make more sense than any of the other songs on the album, being as simple as the lives lived by countless millions of people.

"Delores" sounds enthusiastic, mostly about "she's looking right at me," though she is crying about something. The electric guitar solo adds a lot of energy to the ending, though the song just fades out after that instrumental part. Toning down to "bring back the rain" and "bring back the wind" for the flowers in "Evie's Garden" settles back into the groove that predominates on this album. "Disappointed Man" sounds a bit tougher, in the city, and the music has more happening than in the lush songs, but the big question that wraps up this song seems to be merely, "Where've you been?"

The song "I Can Hear the Laughs" isn't much different from the rest of the songs, in an "it hurts so bad I have to smile" way. Freedy Johnston is so much like himself that I'm not sure how different he could be if he wanted to be, but I like this.