JONNY TWO BAGS - SALVATION TOWN (2014)
Artist: Jonny Two Bags
Title Of Album: Salvation Town
Year Of Release: 2014
Label: Isotone Records
Genre: Rock, Alt Country
Quality: Flac
Bitrate: Lossless
Total Time: 37:37 Min
Tracklist:
01. One Foot In The Gutter
02. Avenues
03. Then You Stand Alone
04. Clay Wheels
05. Forlorn Walls
06. Wayward Cain
07. Ghosts
08. Hope Dies Hard
09. Alone Tonight
10. The Way It Goes
Jonny Two Bags is the guitarist with Social Distortion, and has also played with Youth Brigade, U.S. Bombs and Cadillac Tramps.Salvation Town is his debut full-length solo album. On some of these tracks Jonny delves into American roots music, with some folk and country vibes, though most of these tracks are more in a rock vein.
There are a lot of excellent tracks on this release, with some great guest musicians (including Jackson Browne) and some really good lyrics.
With the title Salvation Town, it might come as no surprise to find lots of religious imagery in these songs, including a mention of that giant glowing cross over the 101 freeway in Los Angeles (in “Then You Stand Alone,” a song that also mentions “the light of God”). “One Foot In The Gutter” mentions “devils and angels,” “heaven,” and “eternal bliss.” The lyrics of “Avenues” include references to “salvation” and “demons.” “Forlorn Walls” mentions “Saint Peter” and “the heavens.” And of course the very title of “Wayward Cain” is a religious reference.
Jonny Two Bags’ real name is Jonny Wickersham. The “Two Bags” bit reminds me of the Monty Python skit, “The Ministry Of Silly Walks,” where there is a character named Mrs. Two Lumps. Mrs. Two Lumps then refers to John Cleese as Mr. Tea Bag. Obviously, Jonny's nickname has nothing whatsoever to do with this comedy routine, but that’s where my brain goes every time I hear it.
“One Foot In The Gutter”
The first track, “One Foot In The Gutter,” opens with a good rock groove. It’s a song about a man taking a look at his life and his choices, particularly with regards to drugs. The main line of the tune is “I’ve got one foot in the gutter/And one foot kicking in the door to heaven.” I love that image, because it’s not a description of a man torn between good and evil, because even the good half includes a violent act. It seems almost more a division between despair and action rather than good and evil. But it’s also a great description of the drug world. And yet the song has kind of a sweet pop vibe.
One Foot In The Gutter Lyric
It's been such a long, long, long time
And the devils and angels hanging around my bed
They don't seem to mind
They gonna drag me into the abyss
Or into a state of enternal bliss
I got one foot in the gutter
And one foot kicking in the door to Heaven
I don't really wanna live like this anymore
This lower nature of mine keeps dragging me down
I can't get up off the floor
I'm gonna jump back into the spoon
Or stay in bed untill a quarter to moon
I got one foot in the gutter
And one foot kicking in the door to Heaven
And when I'm dead and gone
And they're rummaging through my life
What will they ever find out?
What will they tell my wife?
I've been running with a wicked crowd
An evil fathless crowd
I got one foot in the gutter
And one foot kicking in the door to Heaven
It's been such a long, long, long time
And the devils and angels hanging around my bed
They don't seem to mind
They gonna drag me into the abyss
Or into a state of enternal bliss
I got one foot in the gutter
And one foot kicking in the door to Heaven
“Avenues”
“Avenues” kicks in with some nice work by Joel Guzman on accordion, an instrument I didn’t expect to hear on this album. This song creates a vivid landscape and characters, and, like “One Foot In The Gutter,” is related to drugs, with lines like, “And business is on the boom/With a mouthful of balloons/Another kid jumps into the family trade.” This song also has a good beat, and a great second set of vocals by Gaby Moreno in one section.
Avenues Lyric
Running in slow motion
Through the neighborhood tonight
Dodging bullets by the light of the moon
Smoke a wet one to your head
Now your heart is full of lead
Life for dead
One the avenues tonight
When the sirens wail
And the dogs begin to howl
Salvation is nowhere to be found
A demon called vandetta
Rules these avenues tonight
A demon gonna burn this place to the ground
Off the freeway stands a house
Built for every man
Now it hides behind a twelve-foot chain link fence
And business is on the boom
With a mouthful of balloons
Another kid jump into the family trade
The moon id full and bright
On a long hot summer night
Mother weeps but she doesn't make a sound
Her child is gone
Saw it on the evening news
Another night down on the avenues
Ponte reza por mis hijos
Por mis sobrinos tambien
Ponte reza por mis hermanos
Libranos de todo mal
Libranos de todo mal
When the sirens wail
And the dogs begin to howl
Salvation is nowhere to be found
A demon called vandetta
Rules these avenues tonight
A demon gonna burn this place to the ground
Another night down on the avenues
“Then You Stand Alone”
The opening lines of “Then You Stand Alone” are “The electric cross above 101/A glowing beacon in the night/Fills the evil heart with fright/Can you feel the judgment coming down?” But again, the sound is a fairly bright rock sound. “In the place that you call home” is an interesting phrase, because it subtly implies that this place is not quite home. Mentioning home usually give a song a sort of nostalgic, even warm feel, but the phrase works directly against that feel, which I love.
“Then You Stand Alone” also features some excellent guest musicians, including David Hidalgo and David Lindley. Bent Harding, Social Distortion’s bassist, plays bass on this track. Jackson Browne joins Jonny on vocals.
Then You Stand Alone Lyric
The electric cross above 101
A glowing beacon in the night
Fills the evil heart with fright
Can you feel the judgment coming down?
Creepin' on you without a sound
Until the day turns into the night
Then you stand alone
Tonight the stars are drownedin smog
But the light of god is in the eyes
Of the wounded and the compromised
And the kids thrown into the street
trannies, thieves and cops on the beat
Until the night turns grey
Then You Stand Alone
In the city that sprawls to the sea
Where people live in the shadow of fear
Always running afraid
To steo into the light
Yeah the day turns into night
In the place that you call home
Up on the hill above 101
The electric cross is standing by
To bless the traffic flying by
Do the righteous look down on you?
But you turn away from the fight
Then you stand aloneThen You Stand Alone
The electric cross above 101
A glowing beacon in the night
Fills the evil heart with fright
Can you feel the judgment coming down?
Creepin' on you without a sound
Until the day turns into the night
Then you stand alone
Tonight the stars are drownedin smog
But the light of god is in the eyes
Of the wounded and the compromised
And the kids thrown into the street
trannies, thieves and cops on the beat
Until the night turns grey
Then You Stand Alone
In the city that sprawls to the sea
Where people live in the shadow of fear
Always running afraid
To steo into the light
Yeah the day turns into night
In the place that you call home
Up on the hill above 101
The electric cross is standing by
To bless the traffic flying by
Do the righteous look down on you?
But you turn away from the fight
Then you stand alone
“Clay Wheels”
“Clay Wheels” is more in the folk and country realm. The opening lines set the tone: “Sometimes I wonder/If this is as good as it gets/With each passing year it seems/I add a few more regrets.” Joel Guzman plays accordion on this track. There are some really nice backing vocals too, provided by Julie Miller and Gaby Moreno.
Clay Wheels Lyric
Sometimes I wonder
If this is as good as it gets
With each passing year it seems
I add a few more regrets
This is the blackest Knight I think I have ever seen
Riding on Clay Wheels 'til the bitter end
Rolling along with my head in the clouds
I do whatever I please
'Till a tiny pebble in the road ahead
Brings me down to my knees
I got a mouthful of humble pie, dirt and gravel and weeds
Riding on Clay Wheels 'til the bitter end
They say insanity is making the same mistake
Again and again
They might as well just strap me down
In five point restraints
I'm falling out again
Sometimes I wonder
Do you really know what I mean?
like showing up at Chuy's door
With a broken eight track machine
I got the same old broke ass hustle
Barely getting by for so long
Riding on Clay Wheels 'til the bitter end
Forlorn Walls Lyric
Doors slamming one by one down empty halls
And these forlorn walls are all I know
But would I be to blame
If I were to call your name
Because I'm still the same wreck you knew and love
Please burn a candle for me late at night
It gives me such a fright to be alone
When I crawl into my bed
Pull the sheet over my head
There's nothing more to be said, I'm still alone
Pieces of a shattered life all around me
And shattered is my peace of mind
Sometimes love can be so unkind
All the fire in my heart keeps on burning
Although Saint Peter is yearning
To take me on high to the Heavens tonight
Doors slamming one by one down empty halls
Of opportunity I can't afford
But I'll keep fighting for The Cause
Without breaking any laws
I'll just beat my head against the wall and forever be ignored
“Ghosts”
“Ghost” is also more in the folk realm, with a great, serious, desperate sound. And I love when it kicks in, with almost a march beat on the snare for a moment. This song has a quiet power that is quite moving. Some well-placed backing vocals by Gaby Moreno add to this song’s beauty as well as to its grip on the listener. There is also a wonderful instrumental section led by David Lindley on fiddle. Yeah, I just completely love this track; it’s my personal favorite on this album. The song’s closing lines are: “There’s nothing you can say or do/To make me feel whole/But I will keep on moving/Closer to the edge/And that’s where you can find me/When I take my final breath.”
Ghost Lyric
There are ghost in the bathroom
In the mirror against the wall
They speak to me in tongues
And I get dizzy and fall
Black mascara angel, bring a hail to my soul
Help me realize my work
And reach all my life's goals
Sometimes life gets gloomy
And the world's an ugly place
It's hard to break the bars
And put a smile on my face
But I will keep on moving
Relentless through the haze
Don't wanna be in a funeral home
Don't wanna count the days
Cold dark breeze, skeleton trees
Bring a chill into my heart
There's no hope, no love, no angel here
I knew it from the start
Black mascara devil, bring a hail to my soul
Help me realize my worht
Come time to pay the toll
This blaze of life burns a deeper blue
Into my soul
There's nothing you can say or do
To make me feel whole
But I will keep on moving
Closer to the edge
And that's where you can find me
When I take my final breath
“Alone Tonight”
“Alone Tonight” is another of the CD’s highlights. It’s a nice slow country tune, with Greg Leisz on pedal steel. And then at one point, Steve Berlin comes in on saxophone. “I’ll stay true to you/‘Til I turn out the light.”
Alone Tonight
The carpet's cheap
But there's a laundry bag I can keep
A celebration on the second floor
Is making sure I don't get any sleep
And she sure don't look like
Someone I'd wanna meet
I'm so glad I'm alone tonight...
Alone Tonight, without you
There's no strugle no fight
I'll stay true to you
'Til I turn out the light
Nicotine stains on the bed sheet
Curtains all heavy with smoke
Cigarette burn around the bathroom sink
Kind of makes me feel like doing some dope
And she sure don't look like
Someone who's got much hope
I'm so glad I'm alone tonight...
Alone Tonight, without you
There's no strugle no fight
I'll stay true to you
'Til I turn out the light
“The Way It Goes”
Salvation Town concludes with “The Way It Goes.” I love these lines: “Baby, baby, you’re the girl of my dreams/I’m gonna rip your life apart at the seams.” I love that there’s no pause between the joy of meeting and the knowledge that things will go horribly wrong. It’s such a depressing thought, and yet its expression comes across as humorous. Brent Harding plays bass on this track.
The Way It Goes Lyric
Met a girl just the other day
Asked her if she was going my way
She said didn't understand
I said never you mind just take my hand
She said I don't know what you mean
I'm only looking for some gasoline
That's just the way it goes...
Baby baby you're the girl of my dreams
I'm gonna rip your life apart at the seams
Baby baby won't you come inside
Stick with me, it's one hell of a ride
stay with me, I'm gonna take you down
I'm gonna put you six feet in the ground
That's just the way it goes...
Met a girl just the other day
So sad to say now she's gone away
But the fear in her eyes was so real
aw baby I know just how you feel
Baby baby I don't understand
I thought I was your one and only man
That's just the way it goes...
“Hope Dies Hard”
Hope Dies Hard Lyric
I guess the years, they don't amount to much
We were thick as thieves for awhile
But I saw it in your eyes, the moment you realized
You don't love me anymore
You don't love me anymore
I should have listened to that little voice inside
I should have listened to my friends
But I failed to see the truth
chose to ignore the proof
Then the rain came falling down
All the rain came falling down
Hope Dies Hard....
I guess the tears, they don't account for much
They just evaporate into night along with all hope
But I saw it in your eyes, the moment you realized
You don't love me anymore
You don't love me anymore
Hope Dies Hard....
Salvation Town is scheduled to be released on April 1, 2014 on Isotone Records through Thirty Tigers.
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