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(Sweet, Soft Gollum Reviews)
Bobby
B-Side Guys
Surreal Storytelling: Johnny Marie's "Bobby" Blends Dream and Reality
In "Bobby," Johnny Marie weaves a surreal narrative through psychedelic sounds, exploring
identity's fluidity while highlighting collaborative musicianship and emotional depth.
Green lights pierce the darkness as Johnny Marie's "Bobby" unfolds like a fever dream,
pulling listeners into a surreal narrative that defies easy categorization. The Kansas City
songwriter, known for his work across multiple projects including Girl for Samson and
The Real Flower Pots, has crafted a psychedelic portrait that transforms personal pronouns
and perspectives with the fluid logic of a dream.
The track's arrangement showcases the collaborative strength of its assembled musicians.
Dave Storms and Jerry Riccardi's dual drum work creates an appropriately off-kilter foundation,
while Leon Kopilevich's piano and Bill Ryan's acoustic guitar weave through the spaces between.
Chris Ruzich's bass provides crucial grounding for Marie's explorations of identity and
transformation.
Marie's vocals navigate the song's surreal imagery with a matter-of-fact delivery that makes
its strange narrative feel almost mundane. The titular character Bobby appears in various
states - bobbing in mysterious light, wrapped in pride, compared to a walnut. These
transformations create a dreamlike atmosphere where identity becomes fluid and meaning
shifts like shadows.
The production maintains a delicate balance between clarity and psychedelic haze. Each
instrument occupies its own space in the mix while contributing to the overall otherworldly
atmosphere. The interplay between Marie's keyboards and Kopilevich's piano creates
textural depth that supports the narrative's strange twists.
A repeated refrain about being "six feet tall" serves as an anchor point in the song's swirling
narrative, though even this seemingly concrete detail becomes unstable in context. The height
measurement appears at various crucial moments - the world's beginning, its collapse -
suggesting both constancy and transformation.
The song's final moments introduce a new character, Tricia, with the same enigmatic approach
used throughout. This late addition to the cast of characters feels less like a conclusion and
more like another turn in an endless maze, leaving listeners to contemplate the nature of identity
and perception.
Marie's experience leading multiple musical projects serves him well here, as the track
demonstrates confident handling of both conventional rock elements and more experimental
touches. The full band arrangement provides a solid foundation for the song's psychological
explorations without diminishing their impact.
As a standalone single, "Bobby" showcases Marie's gift for crafting songs that feel both familiar
and deeply strange. It's a track that rewards repeated listening, revealing new details and possible
interpretations with each play while maintaining its essential mystery.
The song stands as a testament to Marie's abilities as both songwriter and bandleader, bringing
together a skilled group of musicians to realize a singular vision. While firmly rooted in psychedelic
rock traditions, it carves out its own distinct space through its unique approach to narrative and identity.
Masterpieces from the Indie Void
"Olympics size opening, to a one-line psych lift, to some empathy, to a bit of an ice rink passage."
Various Small Flames
"Big, bold sound is full of vivid energy."
Heatwave!
"A piece of indie rock directed towards psychedelia. The track brings a characteristic sound of the style,
with a soundscape enveloped in smoky mist, lysergic sounds, and harmonized vocals. Guitars soaked
in effects also make their presence felt."
Last Day Deaf
"I like the power of this indie rock song and the vocals are expressive and well balanced with the melodic
line."
UM Squad
"Dark atmosphere created by emotional vocals and captivating guitars."
Sweet, Soft Gollum
Mateus
"Ethereal soundscapes put to an Eastern European waltz. Good melodic singing, almost chilling, but warm
at the same time. Very European in approach. Good, even mixing."
Cosmonauta Radio
"The mystery and darkness you achieve is super enchanting; it truly gives me chills."
Joe Salvato
"Another ethereal, sublime ear worm! bonus that it is a vehicle in 3/4 time! Well done!"
The Cats of Summer
Supreme Playlists
"I enjoyed the laid-back, breezy vibe of the track. It has a nice, relaxed feel that's perfect for a summer day.
The melodies are catchy, and the instrumentation complements the vibe really well."
The Engagement Land (Portugal)
"With an enveloping softness and interesting aspects, the atmosphere was well conducted with
expressiveness."
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