john k. - youniverse

John K.

Youniverse
self-released; 2013

3.5 out of 5

Based in Brooklyn, NY, John K. has been making music since his teenage years growing up on Long Island and prior to that making music in Philly. John K. has been with many different bands over the years but has also been making music on his own. Since 2007 he has self-released an astounding 12 albums and played live to support those albums. His latest entitled Youniverse displays a wide variety of genres including house, R&B, pop and others that he tends to flirt with. The songs are accessible but unique and don’t stray too far from the pop sensibilities. Never eclipsing the five-minute mark each song on the EP slides by effortlessly with smooth songwriting and catchy melodies.

The subdued funkiness of the first track “All I Need Is You” has a chilled-out 70’s type vibe that contains midi-programmed drums and an Ariel Pink type vibe that almost sounds sarcastic at times. “Mynd” contains a synth bass not unlike something you would hear off the Chromactics latest effort Kill for Love with rounded smooth synths that leave plenty of space for the vocals. The infectious “One in a Million” (no, not the Guns N’ Roses song off Lies) was the highlight for me. The song was fluid and I loved the melodies that played off each other. The next song “Just Three Words was quite a departure from the previous song. The 70’s funky, midi-vibe was gone and replaced with a delightful pop song that introduced some welcomed guitar. Before it even starts it fades out to the closer “Youniverse” which is bit more rhythmically vibrant then the other. This is a good album that incorporates a wide variety of genres that work well together.