REVIEW: John Reed – “A Proliferation of Pointlessness”
Here, Jean Camp of Folking.com provides a review of my latest solo album “A Proliferation Of Pointlessness”:
There are many ‘protest’ singer/songwriters today who try and capture the state of the world and all the serious stuff that’s going on within it. A Proliferation of Pointlessness is singer/songwriter John Reed’s way of bringing it all to the forefront and hits the nail on the head with 12 thoughtfully written tracks covering such issues as corruption, Long Covid, change, lack of humanity, surveillance and Big Brother tactics, suicide, heroes of war (who are they really?), lost values, hiding behind a screen (keyboard warriors), Irelands Great Hunger, North and South divide and Project Freedom.
Starting with the lead in track ‘Someone Else’s Ghost’, you are immediately drawn to the lyrics which reference long illnesses such as Long Covid, which seems like it never ends. Thinking it has gone, and jumped into another ghost, and then maybe comes back again. The goal post keeps moving on it. Doctors tend to dismiss it as they do not know how to deal with it. A very strong track with dramatic guitar.
I love the finger picking on ‘Maverick’. The lyrics questioning who is normal? Us or them? John is asking here for us not to be afraid to speak out. ‘Change’ is needed and it’s usually the minority who try to action things. ‘Shadows’ is a track for those of us refusing to age, succumb to illness and whatever else is thrown at us. We will find a way, through sheer determination. Whispering guitar with an almost dystopian feel. ‘Same Sky’ has lyrics about the concern of where humanity is going. How are the children going to fare in the future – if we have a future. ‘Watching’ is all about Big Brother watching and listening to us. Everywhere. Nowhere to escape. Most societies go with it. Is this freedom? The Governments know all about us, especially when we go to a cashless society.
‘The Strongest’ tackles the growing issue of suicide. People (the majority being male) walk amongst us who need to talk but they don’t, they carry on. We should look after each other more. ‘Heroes and Warriors’ poses the question of who are the real heroes of war? The women who were left behind to face the challenges of keeping life going at home? ‘Change’ is a view on 21st century life and looking into a worrying future. Has life all changed since Covid or have these changes been creeping up on us? ‘Us’ hints at humans hiding behind screens and not connecting with each other.
‘The Moss’ tells of the prosecution of the 19th century Irish Great Hunger. Human beings can resolve problems such as these, but it doesn’t work out that way. Governments don’t help. The penultimate track ‘The Hill Country’ is a belting rocky number telling of what some people call the North and South divide in the UK. Love this.
The last track of A Proliferation of Pointlessness gives us the most important message. ‘Project Freedom’. America’s Project 25 bringing the Trump regime into power, with him trying to keep law and order – which he doesn’t understand anyway. The lyrics are urging us to keep our freedom by speaking our mind, and to be heard. An excellent choice for the last track.
This album has its own flow, which John says he didn’t put into any order, the tracks just flowed. APOP1 really needs to be heard, by the public, the media and politicians at home and globally. I really like this album for many reasons, but especially for John Reed’s ability to put into words what we all should be thinking, and taking action and notice of.
All instruments and vocals are by John Reed and recorded at John’s ‘Berevic’ studio in Berwick Upon Tweed, and produced by Ali Karim Esmaail in Manchester. The album is Free From AI for which they have developed a logo, which is on the album cover.
APOP1 really needs to be heard, by the public, the media and politicians at home and globally.
Check out www.johnreed.bandcamp.com where you can purchase the album and other music.
Jean Camp