Stoney Creek Records

****

My initial reaction when I first heard this sibling trio was ‘oh no. not another sweet-as-sugar, close harmony, pop-country group.’ As this all-too-brief five-track EP spun around. the collection of tender ballads, whimsical refrains and vibrant instrumentation slowly began to resonate. There’s not a single song here that doesn’t possess an inherent charm, especially given the compact arrangements and tasteful settings this threesome provides. Their bright harmonies make them sound a little like the Corrs with a tad more jangle and a lot more twang, all presented as a pristine-but-unpretentious throwback to country’s rich crossover past. The EP lives up to its title.

Jenna, Ben, and KK Johnson hail from Meridian, Mississippi, the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music. They’ve spent the past few years living and working in Nashville, doing the usual rounds of co-writing, writer’s nights and label showcases. Together and individually they have garnered some impressive writing credits with songs that have been recorded by Justin Timberlake, Charlie Puth, Dierks Bentley, Weezer, HARDY and Lauren Alaina. Ben is a co-writer on Lee Brice’s chart-topping country hit One Of Them Girls and all three shared in the writing of four of these songs. They are multi-instrumentalists and co-produce, along with Byron Gallimore, these recordings. In short, these Johnson kids are skilled musicians and know how to use their talent for the best results.

One of the girl’s heart-rending vocal opens Met Me Now, but she’s soon backed by hand-claps and the harmonies of the others in a gorgeous chorus and the emotional rush that comes with intense heartbreak of what could’ve been. A driving rhythm and a rolling melodic hook, it is all woven together by a compelling story of regret. Little Bit More is a sublime slice of pure pop, elegant in its construction with overlapping synth layers. When the repeated ‘You, You, You’ and ‘Me, Me, Me’ opened Come On In, I was getting ready to press the skip button, but then it slipped neatly into an exquisite country-pop delight. A catchy acoustic arrangement sets the scene for an aural imagery that resonates with visions of small-town life, friendly neighbours and other scenes of simplicity. That impression when life never had to be more complicated than simply tripping over work boots or a glimpse of the world from the vantage point of clandestinely chilling out on the roof. Pity about that insidious chorus that comes close to ruining what could’ve been a near-perfect song,

This rose-coloured retrospective comes into play again on Me + You, a longing look back at a gentler era and marrying it romantically to a current relationship. With a gentle harmonic arrangement the song glides on an autumnal glow of golden shivers, slow-motion choogle, honeyed hues and cedar swoon. Their take on Dolly Parton’s Light Of A Clear Blue Morning is a natural fit and while most artists find themselves conforming to Ms Parton’s vision of her material, here they take this well-trod country hit into new territory entirely. And it works perfectly, breathing new life into a song I hadn’t heard in many years. This is mostly a breezy sounding country-pop record. The trio’s melodies are sweet and easy to digest even when the subject matter is anything but. I just wish record labels would give us a full album instead of these short-change EPs which only scratch the surface of what an act is really capable of. I feel that there is a lot more of Track45 yet to be discovered.

www.track45.com

March 2021