Jonny's 2011 self-titled debut is a collection of bright, literate, and catchy '60s-influenced pop. Perhaps that shouldn't be surprising given that
Jonny are a supergroup featuring
Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake and former
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci frontman
Euros Childs along with drummer Stuart Kidd and bassist Dave McGowan. While both Blake and
Childs have long evinced a passion for folk-pop and melodic rock, the music they've come up with for
Jonny is perhaps that much more bouncy, gleeful, and outright fun than anything they've allowed themselves to be before. To these ends, the spooky fun-time leadoff track "Wich Is Wich," the single "Candyfloss," and the acoustic handclapper "You Was Me" are perfect little psych-pop nuggets that bring to mind a mix of
Donovan, early
T. Rex, and
the Move. Elsewhere, you get the
Nick Garrie-sounding ballad "The Good Night" and such other swirly, madcap delights as the baroque pop-inflected "Bread" and the rocking bubblegum cut "Cave Dance." Lest you assume that
Jonny are only interested in groovy cartoon-themed fun, there are some really heartfelt moments here in Blake's "Circling the Sun" and
Childs'
Paul McCartney-styled country ballad "English Lady." ~ Matt Collar