The Fall Of Hobo Johnson has arrived and it's as profound as the title would suggest. Arriving two years after the release of his debut project The Rise Of Hobo Johnson, this is the Californian artist's most personal statement.
It's a sometimes comedic, often very dark portrayal of the world and his own struggles with mental health that leaves no stone unturned. There's love, loss, nihilism, hope, cars and talking dogs all thrown into the mix and the result is a stunning walk through the mind of one of music's most unfiltered minds.
We took a walk through the album track-by-track and put our thoughts into words below.
Typical Story
We're all well-acquainted with Typical Story and it's not so typical story. The opening statement of the album is as frantic as it gets. Throughout the song he covers abuse, equality, purpose and freedom. They’re difficult topics to cover in such a concise amount of time but this is Hobo dishing out his thoughts unfiltered. He’s at his most unhinged, allowing his mind to race ahead at an unsettling pace.
Mover Awayer
Mover Awayer is a piano-led cut that has Johnson rapping about "the man who has heaven in his plans." It's about complacency and letting go but the chorus brings life back to purpose. It turns from the man to the girl "who makes his Mondays feel like Fridays" and it's a heartening statement until she moves away in the second verse.
Uglykid
Uglykid has Johnson's self-esteem at his lowest. It's about feeling like you're absolutely worthless but Elohim comes through with a beautiful vocal that tells him the complete opposite. "You look so pretty," she sings, whether Johnson can believe it or not.
You & The Cockroach
Johnson is essentially a story-teller and he's at his absolute best on this track. It's about a fish who crawls out of the ocean and meets the love of his life. They have children together and then we fast-forward into the world right now. There's religion, government and an "orange" president which is almost definitely Trump. It's a humorous but slightly despairing look at the world right now.
Subaru Crosstrek XV
Subaru Crosstrek XV is the most humorous point of the album. It's produced by Ryan Lewis of Macklemore fame and sees him rap about how he bought a sensible Subaru. He could've bought a Lamborghini but he's still working on a level of wealth that's that large. It's completely ridiculous but it will plant a smile on your face for the entirety of the song.
Moonlight
If you're looking for a Johnson love song Moonlight is the closest you're going to get. It's a luscious, string-laden cut that has him falling in love with a girl, "in the moonlight." A theme that continues over the album is this imagery of the girl of his dreams leaving. She does it here and the song descends into self-destruction, falling apart with crashing beats and sporadic brass.
Happiness
Happiness is the gentlest point of the album and sees his girl leaving while he sings, "I really hope you find happiness." He's completely skeptical that such a thing exists but towards the end he entertains the thought that maybe he could find the perfect life and be happy. He also touches on alcohol abuse and its connection with mental health which never an easy thing to portray in song poignantly.
All In My Head
Led by acoustic guitars, All In My Head sees Johnson in a state of despair. He's upset about the way politics dominates the planet and also how human beings are "all insane". He knows that many of these negative thoughts are all in his head but it doesn't make not thinking it any easier. The production on this one is gorgeous with blaring horns dominating the tail-end of the song.
Ode To Justin Bieber
You may think this title is a joke but it's genuinely an ode to Justin Bieber. "If you buy your Mum a house when you're 13, you're going to be fucked up," he sings saying that he's sorry that nobody can understand. On a deeper level, it's an exploration of how success or the lack of can actually mess with your mental state. It comes from a sympathetic state which is something that not many people offer the Biebs.
February 15th
February 15th is the most intimate, quickest moment on the record but it holds the most weight. "I'm gonna be alone forever," he sings, trading a soft voice for a cracked scream. "I'm emotionally unstable," he sings, allowing his brain to embrace all the worst things that he thinks.
Sorry, My Dear
Sorry, My Dear takes things into an even darker, once again talking about, "the story of the guy." While Typical Story is energised, this one is nihilistic with Johnson singing over a sparse piano and echoing beat. "Kill me in my sleep," he sings, his mental state spiralling into a dark place. Still, there's a silver lining to this song as it becomes, "the story of the guy, who decided not to die." The music becomes triumphant even with the guitars howling.
I Want A Dog
I Want A Dog is acceptance that Johnson could have the life that he wants with a wife, a kid and a dog (who can talk). It's a dreamscape but also a heartening moment that shows he's able to rise above some of his darkest thoughts and let positivity in. The song ends with climatic, cinematic synths that shine brighter than anything on the record.
