B.A. Johnston has proven that he’s one of the best live acts to ever
call Halifax home. Does it matter that he wrote a great album,
Stairway To Hamilton, chronicling a life of dirt malls and
dead-end jobs that channels the spirit of Ford Pier and the Bonaduces,
as long as he still continues to serve up Jager shots, self-deprecating
non-sequiturs, snot rockets and a bare belly? It might not.
Unfortunately what that means is missing out on recordings that at
their best, channel the wit and vitriol of early Mountain Goats. Still,
armed with an arsenal of pop culture references, B.A. releases an album
that’s almost as memorable as his live show.
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This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2009.
don’t forget the “power finish” (party popper and nose solo)