Johnny Boy
| Johnny Boy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 📅 Released | May 4, 2009, October 11, 2009 | |||
| 🎙️ Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Studio | Tyler Joseph's home studio, Columbus, Ohio | |||
| ⏳ Length | 24:47 | |||
| 🏷️ Label | Self-released | |||
| 🤑 Producer | Tyler Joseph | |||
| Twenty One Pilots chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Johnny Boy | ||||
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Buy this album Johnny Boy (EP) or listen to it on amazon
Johnny Boy is the first release by American band Twenty One Pilots. The EP was handed out at early live shows, most notably the Battle of The Bands show on October 11, 2009.[1][2]
Writing and recording
The meaning of the opening and title track, "Johnny Boy", had for years been debated. But, in a 2020 interview with Chris Joseph, the father of Tyler, the meaning was finally laid to rest.[3] In 2008, Chris Joseph was struggling due to an economic recession. "Air Catcher" was one of the first songs the band played. During a live performance of it in 2010, Tyler states it was the first song he ever showed to drummer Chris Salih.[4] The version on this EP has alternate strings and is mixed noticeably to the album version. "Time to Say Goodbye" samples Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman's Con te partirò (also known as "Time to Say Goodbye"). While sometimes confused as a cover, other than the sample, the song is completely original. It was originally going to be included on their eponymous debut album, but was ultimately pulled due to copyright issues.[5][6] It was also the first song Josh Dun heard from the band, leading him to converse with Tyler Joseph and was one of the reasons he took over after Salih departed.[7] Before Regional at Best released, it was released as a single on the band’s website, along with another song known as "Save", and a professionally recorded version of the previously mentioned "Air Catcher".
In "Addict with a Pen", Tyler begins to pray to God after they “haven’t talked in quite some time.” He confesses his sins and begs his creator for redemption, or to forgive him of his sins, illustrating this as being provided water in a desert.[8] "Friend, Please" is about someone encouraging a friend considering suicide that life is worth living. It is likely that the song was written about someone specific, like "Johnny Boy" and "Prove Me Wrong", also known as "Prove (Alissa's Song)" from No Phun Intended.[9] "Taxi Cab" is another song Joseph themed around religion, a common theme of his songs, especially earlier ones. He also addresses how important music can be to his mental health on this track. "Taxi Cab" remains an important song to both the fans and the band alike. Not only has Joseph stated that the third verse is one of his greatest accomplishments, but this song was the only track off this album to be performed during the The Bandito Tour. [10]
As with their debut album, this EP was conceptualized and recorded within the homemade recording studio in the basement of the house that Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas, Chris Salih, and Thomas's brother were staying in at the time. Additionally, while input was provided from the other members of the band, the lyrics were mainly written by Joseph.[11]
Reception
Writers from Cleveland.com wrote about the title track, "(It) remains a fan-favorite for Twenty One Pilots diehards. It's by no means the band's best song, but it feels like Tyler Joseph going for a Jack's Mannequin moment. The song is also the centerpiece of the band's debut." [12] Alternative Press described "Addict with a Pen" as "slow, spare, and nakedly honest" and "the best representation of what initially drew fans to the band".[13] The EP has an average rating of 75/100 on "Album of The Year" [14]
Track listing
All lyrics and music written by Tyler Joseph, with some musical contributions from the other two band members.
| Johnny Boy (First CD)[15] | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Johnny Boy" | 4:38 |
| 2. | "Air Catcher" | 4:13 |
| 3. | "Time To Say Goodbye" | 3:15 |
| 4. | "Addict with a Pen" | 4:45 |
| 5. | "Friend, Please" | 4:12 |
| 6. | "Taxi Cab" | 4:44 |
| Total length: | 24:47 | |
| twenty one pilots (Second CD)[16][17] | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Johnny Boy" | 4:37 |
| 2. | "Air Catcher" | 4:11 |
| 3. | "Time to Say Goodbye" | 3:15 |
| 4. | "Friend, Please" | 4:10 |
| Total length: | 16:15 | |
Personnel
- Tyler Joseph – vocals, organs, piano, keyboards, programming, synthesizers, production
- Nick Thomas – guitars, bass, programming, backing vocals (on "Air Catcher")
- Chris Salih – drums, percussion, backing vocals (on "Air Catcher")
References
- ↑ "twenty one pilots Setlist at Alrosa Villa". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "Found an original homemade, handwritten demo predating their first CD". Reddit.com. Reddit. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "Tyler Joseph's dad settles the story behind a twenty one pilots classic". Altpress. May 5, 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "Twenty One Pilots - Air Catcher Live @ The Newport Music Hall 5-1-10". Youtube.com. Youtube. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ↑ "twenty one pilots". Discogs.
- ↑ "Johnny Boy (EP)". Genius.
- ↑ "Interview with Twenty One Pilots' Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, part 1". Columbus Alive. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Addict with a Pen lyrics". genius.com. Genius. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "No Phun Intended - Everything We Know: History, Trivia, and Mysteries (Solved?)". Reddit.com. Reddit. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ Heinz, Natasha. "Here's what we learned from the twenty one pilots AMA". altpress.com. AltPress. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "Founding Twenty One Pilots member Chris Salih opens up about band". altpress.com. August 24, 2017. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2017. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Smith and Nickoloff, Troy and Anne. "All 65 Twenty One Pilots songs ranked from worst to best". cleveland.com. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ LeRoy, Dan (September 2, 2015). "The 10 best twenty one pilots songs". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ↑ "Twenty One Pilots Johnny Boy". albumoftheyear.org. Album Of The Year. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "Johnny Boy (EP)". twentyonepilots.fandom.com. Fandom. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "Found an original homemade, handwritten demo predating their first CD". Reddit.com. Reddit. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "twenty one pilots". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
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