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Former Boys Like Girls singer Martin Johnson makes his triumphant return to the spotlight with 2018's The Night Game. The last time most people were aware of Johnson was back in the singer's emo-pop heyday when Boys Like Girls scored hits like "The Great Escape" and "Love Drunk." The group's interesting if ill-fated turn toward modern country on 2012's Crazy World marked their end, and sent Johnson down a lucrative road as a songwriter and producer, scoring songs for Jason Derulo, Avril Lavigne, Gavin DeGraw, and others. With The Night Game, he builds upon all of his previous work and reestablishes himself as a charismatic purveyor of his own brand of emotive, uber-catchy contemporary pop. Joining him on the album is Austrian producer François Tetaz, who helped bring Johnson's sophisticated sound to life, even conscripting Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) to sing backing vocals on the anthemic leadoff single, "The Outfield." That song, as with much of album, finds Johnson embracing the kind of crisply attenuated pop/rock that bands like Glass Tiger, Cutting Crew, and perhaps not so coincidentally the Outfield championed in the mid-'80s, marrying glassy synths to sweeping guitar licks and soaring lead vocals. Johnson has matured since his emo days, and brings a warm gravitas to The Night Game, as if he's looking back on his youth with a clear, hard-won perspective. He also has knack for poetic imagery that conjures the magic feeling of a place in time, and puts the listener there in that moment. On "Summerland," he sings "To fire and matches and cigarette lips/Hearts out stranded on styrofoam drifts/Searching for true love with you in the sand." It doesn't hurt that his voice has matured along with his point of view, and his resonant, swaggering croon works to sell his songs about long-lost love ("The Photograph"), dodging personal demons ("Die a Little"), and the pains of growing up ("American Nights"). Elsewhere, he's joined by former Chairlift singer Caroline Polachek on the buoyant, yearning duet "Do You Think About Us?," and evokes the snappy, club-ready grooves of Michael Jackson on "Bad Girls Don't Cry." The Night Game is a pop album for adults, where Johnson illuminates his dusky emotions with bright, stadium-sized lights.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Wally De Backer, Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Piscina, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Francois Tetaz, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Thomas Walsh, Composer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jasper Leak, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Travis Ferrence, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Michael Iveson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Real Johnson Records
Andrew VanWyngarden, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Wimberly, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Harris, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Mims, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Kyle Moorman, Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Rabin, Composer - Ryan McMahon, Composer - Francois Tetaz, Composer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Electric Sitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Connan Mockasin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Berger, Composer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Keefe, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Morgan Dorr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jasper Leak, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Molly McCook, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Omar Yakar, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Duell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Travis Ferrence, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Michael Iveson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dale Spollett, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Farah Holt, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jacqueline Miskanic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Mims, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Smokey Hormel, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Piscina, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Francois Tetaz, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Omar Yakar, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Duell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Travis Ferrence, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Garner, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Maureen McDonald, Composer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Mims, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Kyle Moorman, Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Piscina, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Caroline Polachek, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Francois Tetaz, Composer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jasper Leak, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Omar Yakar, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Michael Iveson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Piscina, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Francois Tetaz, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Omar Yakar, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Duell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Garner, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Smokey Hormel, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Additional Producer - Dan Piscina, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Francois Tetaz, Composer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - John Kirby, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Night Game, MainArtist - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Assistant Producer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Andrew VanWyngarden, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Griffin, Composer - Patrick Wimberly, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryland Blackington, Engineer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Kyle Moorman, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Piscina, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Francois Tetaz, Composer, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Connan Mockasin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Keefe, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Morgan Dorr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Molly McCook, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Travis Ferrence, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Michael Iveson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dale Spollett, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqueline Miskanic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Garner, Triangle, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Max Bernstein, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryland Blackington, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Additional Producer - Francois Tetaz, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ross Golan, Composer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jasper Leak, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Elitch, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Boyd, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Garner, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Travis Pavur, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Damwells, Composer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Sam Hollander, Composer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Piscina, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Francois Tetaz, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Travis Ferrence, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Garner, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Mims, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Piscina, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Francois Tetaz, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jasper Leak, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Night Game, MainArtist - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Garner, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Joe LaPorta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Mims, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Paddock, Producer, Engineer, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Francois Tetaz, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Martin Johnson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Kirby, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Devin Kam, Producer, Assistant Producer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jasper Leak, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kirin J Callinan, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Molly McCook, Voice, AssociatedPerformer - Omar Yakar, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Boyd, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Night Game, MainArtist - Dale Spollett, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Bisch, Producer, Additional Producer - Nicholas Morsov, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqueline Miskanic, Voice, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Garner, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
Album review
Former Boys Like Girls singer Martin Johnson makes his triumphant return to the spotlight with 2018's The Night Game. The last time most people were aware of Johnson was back in the singer's emo-pop heyday when Boys Like Girls scored hits like "The Great Escape" and "Love Drunk." The group's interesting if ill-fated turn toward modern country on 2012's Crazy World marked their end, and sent Johnson down a lucrative road as a songwriter and producer, scoring songs for Jason Derulo, Avril Lavigne, Gavin DeGraw, and others. With The Night Game, he builds upon all of his previous work and reestablishes himself as a charismatic purveyor of his own brand of emotive, uber-catchy contemporary pop. Joining him on the album is Austrian producer François Tetaz, who helped bring Johnson's sophisticated sound to life, even conscripting Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) to sing backing vocals on the anthemic leadoff single, "The Outfield." That song, as with much of album, finds Johnson embracing the kind of crisply attenuated pop/rock that bands like Glass Tiger, Cutting Crew, and perhaps not so coincidentally the Outfield championed in the mid-'80s, marrying glassy synths to sweeping guitar licks and soaring lead vocals. Johnson has matured since his emo days, and brings a warm gravitas to The Night Game, as if he's looking back on his youth with a clear, hard-won perspective. He also has knack for poetic imagery that conjures the magic feeling of a place in time, and puts the listener there in that moment. On "Summerland," he sings "To fire and matches and cigarette lips/Hearts out stranded on styrofoam drifts/Searching for true love with you in the sand." It doesn't hurt that his voice has matured along with his point of view, and his resonant, swaggering croon works to sell his songs about long-lost love ("The Photograph"), dodging personal demons ("Die a Little"), and the pains of growing up ("American Nights"). Elsewhere, he's joined by former Chairlift singer Caroline Polachek on the buoyant, yearning duet "Do You Think About Us?," and evokes the snappy, club-ready grooves of Michael Jackson on "Bad Girls Don't Cry." The Night Game is a pop album for adults, where Johnson illuminates his dusky emotions with bright, stadium-sized lights.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:35
- Main artists: The Night Game
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Vertigo Berlin
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2018 Real Johnson Records ℗ 2018 Real Johnson Records
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