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Reviewed by John Unger
Lounge Freak
John Jonethis, 1997, Essential Records
"Lounge Freak", featuring John Jonethis, is a crossing of worlds. Here, the world of Christian rock music meets the lounge world. The result is a cohesive collection of Christian lounge music. John Jonethis is a piano player/singer who entertains guests at some of Nashville's oldest and fanciest hotels. He's taken songs from Christian bands such as Newsboys, MxPx, Plankeye, DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline, Jars of Clay and others, and translated them into a lounge style with a samba or bossa nova beat.
The album is experimentally aggressive as it brings together two very different musical idioms. Jonethis knows lounge music well, and as a result these arrangements have a sense of consistency and continuity. Song of the songs, however, translate into the lounge genre better than others. For example, the smooth lyricism of "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus" and the easy feel of "Open House" make these songs sound great, while the driving pace of "Take Me To Your Leader" and "Jesus Freak" cause some awkwardness. Also, the presentation of this album makes it look like a novelty record, which it was not intended to be.
The songs which Jonethis has chosen for the album are solid in both their melody and content, but it is the truth about God spoken through these songs that give this album its value. The meaning is not lost in the translation. "Lounge Freak" is a successful venture across worlds.
-John Unger is a Bethany grad who is presently studying Management at the University of Manitoba. He plays trombone and continues to study music as well.
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