Johnathan Rice – The Long Game : Album Review
I’m pleasantly surprised as I listen to the eponymous first track of “The Long Game,” Rice’s first album in six years. Those albums remain in my memory remnants of my indie pop teenagehood and as such, I hadn’t given them much airtime since then. On this record, Rice’s voice sounds better than ever – it’s sensual, strong, and at times reminiscent of other aughts-era indie folk darlings at times, but certainly unique. Courtney Marie Andrews’s vocals on the intro track as well as “Millions of Miles” add depth and dimension and the acoustic guitar accompanied by subtle pedal steel is a perfect recipe to make this collection of songs extremely my shit.
Heartfelt, earnest lyrics may quickly make Johnathan Rice a contender for the heart-on-his-sleeve songwriter hole that’s in many of our hearts this year. Likewise, his characteristic wit is on full display – I’ll admit that I held my breath when hearing “Meet the Mother,” nervous to hear a lyrical stab at the other person playing “The Long Game,” but the words give way to gentleness and reflect a deeper pain of someone trying to pinpoint the place heartache could be prevented before realizing that they can’t blame anyone or anything other than fate.
“The Long Game” is mature, simple, and lovely. The album’s arc reflects the entire process of the end of a relationship – denial, immediate sadness, vague bitterness, more transparent sadness, and ultimately acceptance.
