Even if his name isn’t instantly familiar to you, Will Johnson has probably been a part of at least one musical project you’re a fan of. After moving to Denton, Texas, in the early ’90s for college, Johnson formed Centro-matic, which has released numerous records since 1996. In 2002, Johnson, his Centro-matic bandmates and guest musicians started issuing more introspective records under the South San Gabriel moniker; the same year, Johnson released his first solo LP. Since, Johnson has played drums with Monsters Of Folk, toured with the Undertow Orchestra (featuring David Bazan, Mark Eitzel and Vic Chesnutt) and started work on a Woody Guthrie project (with Jay Farrar, Jim James and Anders Parker) in the vein of the Wilco/Billy Bragg Mermaid Avenue albums. Johnson’s latest release is the self-titled debut by Molina And Johnson (on Secretly Canadian), his duo with Jason Molina (Songs: Ohia, Magnolia Electric Co.). As if he wasn’t busy enough already, the Austin-based Johnson will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.
Johnson: Every once in a while, the Dexateens make me think of what the (Tim-era) Replacements might have sounded like had they come from the pines of Alabama instead of the basements of Minneapolis, but that probably comes off too simple and maybe flat-out unjust. Glorious, electrified folk music with ever-changing dimension and no irony. Their lineups have changed a good bit over the years, but their consistency has not. Singlewide has more acoustic swagger and pop than some of their earlier electric-guitar-drenched recordings, although “Can You Whoop It” is an anthemic trophy-hoist closer of roll-the-windows-down rock. I can’t write about them without also recommending their relentlessly good Red Dust Rising. Video after the jump.
