Johnny Lima Livin’ Out Loud
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
Johnny Lima’s story is one that needs to be heard. No, it’s not a story about redemption, because he’s never fallen. It’s not a story about a comeback either, because he’s never been down and out (considering he’s a much sought after music producer and songwriter). It is a story about perseverance though. In an interview with Hardrock Haven, Johnny talked about how he was ready to give up the Rock ‘N Roll dream, at least as a recording artist. He’s a successful songwriter and producer, but his own music sold moderately well overseas and never caught on in the States. Then he became a social networking nerd like millions of others, and he was struck by how many fans all over the world via MySpace told him again and again how much his music meant to them. That rekindled the fire, and Livin’ Out Loud is the result of that newfound passion for making raucous ‘80s Hard Rock.
Johnny wrote all of the songs on Livin’ Out Loud, and played all the rhythm guitars (and some solos), bass, and keyboards. He brought in a few friends (CraigTakeshita, Danny Danzi and Christian Wolf) to handle lead guitar, and another in Bernie Diaz to play drums on all the tracks. Lima also produced, engineered and mixed the release.
From the opening notes on the first track, “All I Wanna Do,” you’ll hear right away what Lima is all about. He’s not trying to be modern; he’s playing exactly the kind of music he loves, and you either get it or you don’t. “All I Wanna Do” is a pumping melodic anthem, with Lima sneering some of the more sexual lines like, “The taste of your sweet poison drives me insane.” It’s one of the many highlights on Livin’ Out Loud.
If you like Motley Crue, then “Wildflower” shall tickle your fancy. Lima doesn’t sing like Vince Neil, but there are a couple musical passages that truly echo “Girls Girls Girls.” Vocally, Lima sings closer to Jack Russell circa Once Bitten Twice Shy on “Wildflower.” Basically, it’s the kind of song that makes the money rain in a strip club, just a throbbing, brilliant headbanging composition.
Lima often gets compared to bands like Bon Jovi and Def Leppard, and the first Def Leppard vibe really comes up on “Somebody to Love.” A mid-tempo rocker, the massively melodic gang backing vocals sound like Def Leppard at their hey-day. The guitar lead after the choruses and as the song fades out certainly channels Steve Clark as well. Lima writes and sings the mellower songs with the same masterful understanding as he does the rockers.
As far as sheer fun, “Caught in the Middle” will be one of your favorites. Because it’s about adultery, and who doesn’t love adultery? It’s funny as hell, basically about a guy who gets picked up by a chick, goes home with her, and she has wedding pictures on the wall. Later, the husband shows up, which just goes to show you the protagonist in the tale isn’t thinking with his noggin.
The title track is Lima’s personal anthem, a song about taking advantage of the time you have left here on earth. “From now on I’m gonna live like tomorrow won’t exist,” sings Lima on “Livin’ Out Loud.” Looks like his fans truly made Lima hungry again, and we are all better off for it.
As mentioned, Lima has been compared to Bon Jovi before. Instead of running away from comparisons, he embraced them on “Hard to Say Goodbye.” If there is a formula to Bon Jovi’s music (and there is), Lima has figured it out 100 percent, musically and vocally. Back when New Jersey was ruling the airwaves, “Hard to Say Goodbye” is about the only song that could have knocked them back in the charts. There is a longer story behind the song and how it was written, so tune in to the interview to get the skinny.
Instead of ending on a ballad, Lima continues living loud on “’Til Love is Gone.” It’s another mid-tempo grinder, and Lima sings with a slightly sleazy edge to his voice on the verses before his voice soars to the chorus. It may be Lima’s strongest vocals on the entire release.
Livin’ Out Loud isn’t one of those releases that grows on you. It can’t, because you’ll absolutely dig it the first time through, and every time thereafter.
Track listing:
1. All I Wanna Do
2. Wildflower
3. Hate To Love You
4. I’m On fire
5. Somebody To Love
6. Caught In The Middle
7. Gimme Some Rock, So I Can Roll
8. Livin’ Out Loud
9. Still Waiting For You
10. Long Way Down
11. Hard To Say Goodbye
12. ‘Til Love Is Gone
HRH Rating: 8.1/10