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July 31, 2009

Dallas Morning News
By Mario Tarradell / Music Critic
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The former lead singer goes solo on Mount Pelée , his debut that has all original songs. The disc, which just arrived in stores, is a sometimes-somber, sometimes-lilting and always-compelling set of 11 tracks that walk the fine lines separating pop from country from rock.

Johnson plays guitar and piano on the airy, uncluttered record while being backed by the five members of local instrumental band Shibboleth. He travels through bouncy pop (“Bragging Type”); lovely balladry (“Lucky When Someone Loves You”); roots rock (“Flatter Yourself”); and forlorn, plaintive dirge (“Bottle of Rum”). The Dallas resident, a husband and father of two children, sounds refreshed and mature in his new creative outlet.

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July 30, 2009

Dallas Observer – DC9 at Night
Thursday, Jul. 30 2009

This week marks the release of former Sorta frontman Trey Johnson’s debut solo release, Mount Pelée, a disc that finds Johnson and his familiar, classic, soothing voice heading in a somewhat different direction.

How so? Well, the disc kinda sounds like it’s a blend of Sorta and the eccentric, toungue-in-cheek sounds of Shibboleth–which, OK, makes perfect sense: Shibboleth’s Don Cento arranged and produced the new record. Oh, and he plays on it, too, along with the rest of Shibboleth (bassist James Driscoll and keys man Rich Martin) and drummer Matt Kellum of Chomsky, giving Johnson a quite the capable crew of backing players. Kinda like, well, Sorta, really.

And that’s the thing about Johnson: A fine singer, songwriter and downright clever lyricist on his own, it seems like he’s always had the good sense to realize that, in this crowded musical landscape, that alone isn’t necessarily enough. And, indeed, as much as Johnson’s own work on this disc stands out, so too does his backing players’.

No doubt those abilities will be on display tonight as Johnson and his band head to Good Records to celebrate Mount Pelée’s release with a free in-store performance tonight at 7.

Download “Unfavorable Way” here:
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2009/07/bonus_mp3_trey_johnson_–_unfa.php

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July 27, 2009

Dallas Morning News
July 27, 2009 | View article
By MARIO TARRADELL / Music Critic

For those local-music fans still mourning the demise of Sorta, not to mention the death of Carter Albrecht, Trey Johnson’s solo debut should at least ease the pain. The Dallas-based Johnson, former Sorta frontman, looked inward to craft 11 original songs brimming with uncluttered beauty.

Johnson’s muse swims squarely in the musical river that connects country, folk, roots rock and Americana. And yet there’s something very downtown about his tunes. He writes, sings and plays with the spirit of a man who’s seen plenty of the big city and the rural countryside. In other words, he’s experienced the purity and cruelty of life.

So Mount Pelée has a world-weary feel, particularly on forlorn cuts such as “Bottle of Rum” and “Uneven Life.” But he’s not ready to throw in the towel. This husband and father offers the lovely ballad “Lucky When Someone Loves You,” devoid of any sugary affectations. He can also brood on the roots rocker “Flatter Yourself” and go completely pop on the buoyant “Bragging Type.”

Mount Pelée features Dallas instrumental band Shibboleth as backing musicians. Don Cento and Stuart Sikes produced the disc with clarity conducive to creating a mood. The CD is somber, jubilant, stark and rich. It becomes more compelling with each listen.