South San Gabriel, like Centro-matic, emanates from Will Johnson's immense vault of songs. While Centro-matic is best known for their bombastic, fuzz-laden rock songs and Johnson's solo recordings tend toward the sad and sparse, South San Gabriel is the outlet for Johnson's open-ended, hallucinatory pop songs. The stunning journey of The Carlton Chronicles fits neatly on a shelf alongside Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, and Smog, blending stunning songwriting with a delicate and nuanced approach to prod   [ read more ]

CD $12.99

When Centro-Matic is not exploring the outer fringes of indie rock, they're traveling the long, dusty highway that leads here. This is a sparsely performed collection of relaxed and moody ghost songs. Will Johnson sings with such breathiness that maybe he's just talkin' in his sleep. Dreamy arrangements that allow one to be lost in space, with sweeping pedal steel, lazy electric guitars, and a variety of who knows what sounds. Heavenly.

CD $13.99

When is a split album not entirely a split album? Will Johnson is the connecting factor between the two bands featured on Dual Hawks, both of which are among other outlets for his muse besides his straight-up solo work, so the fact that such a release could eventually happen isn't so surprising, and couldn't be any more manna for the fans. Looked at from a more measured perspective, though, Dual Hawks is less remarkable -- no doubt that Johnson has his good qualities, but a bit like {$Ryan Adams   [ read more ]

CD $16.13

Will Johnson, "Maestro of Melancholy," has done it again, writing and arranging an exquisite foray into wistfulness so sublime you can't help but feel elation mingled with the sadness. For those confused by Johnson's prolificacy (a dozen releases in nine years bear his stamp), South San Gabriel is where Will Johnson, "Centro-Matic Rock & Roll Band Leader," and Will Johnson "Solo Artist of the Sparse" converge. SSG was born from the slow and stately side of Centro but exhibits a fulle   [ read more ]

CD $14.23