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REVIEWS
WOODSONGS II AND HOMESTEAD: "Take a poet with the inventiveness of Bob Dylan,
add a melodic voice better than John Denver, and the showmanship and business
sense of a Garrison Keillor and you've got Michael Johnathon. His Homestead CD
represents some of the more original and fresh folk music of today. This is pure
Americana of the highest order. We rated this book/CD combo our highest: five
stars...
Bob Spear
Publisher and Chief Reviewer
Heartland Reviews
"In uncertain times, many people long for the comfort and familiarity of home.
That's the underlying theme behind folksinger Michael Johnathon's latest,
Homestead. The Kentucky-based singer and songwriter's album is a solid,
satisfying effort that's as comfortable and comforting as a rocking-chair on a
porch. Johnathon sings in a rich, warm voice somewhere between tenor and
baritone, and plays guitar, banjo and mandolin. The songs are also marvelously
comforting. The whole album is beautifully recorded and tastefully performed, a
guaranteed treat for fans of acoustic Americana folk music."
Gary Whitehouse
Music Review - Production Editor and CD Acquisitions
"Michael is a new force in folk music. He sings songs, writes lyrics and prose,
and hosts his own weekly music show. His latest work, Homestead, is a peaceful
folk/bluegrass album of original songs. His Guthrie-esqe vocals and the
interesting instrumentation make this a fine album for a summer evening or a
winter day by the fire....
Reviewed by: Adrin Fisher
Alternative Music Press
"Michael Johnathon's new record speaks to the warmth and comfort of home and
family. This man is a genius. I am in awe and I am rarely in awe. I would love
to spend some time with Johnathon to learn how to express my feelings. I would
have never found this had I not had the privilege of reviewing artists. Probably
the best artist I have ever heard....
Larry Alexander
Music Critic
"While folksinging, delightful guitar picking, and environmental concerns have
defined his professional life, this popular songwriter has embraced the modern
age in a very unique way. His seventh album, Homestead, creates a James
Taylor-like bluegrass-leaning time of home-styled musical storytelling."
Jonathan Widran
All Music Guide and Ebay Review
HOMESTEAD - "Michael Johnathon creates folk and bluegrass right from the
heartland... it's a bit of a mix of John Denver and the Grand Ole' Opry. I
personally love the tracks that are more folky and heartfelt, but the banjo
picking on the other tracks just get you moving and stomping....
the celebritycafe
music review
HOMESTEAD - "Michael Johnathon is a consummate musician, a singer and songwriter
with something to say. The album's title cut, "Homestead,... tells a story of a
peaceful autumn evening at home in woods, complete with music, family, homemade
bread and a glass of wine. The result is a nicely-arranged, multi-instrumental
patchwork of tones and rhythms that resemble a cozy quilt that warms you while
you relax in your old rocking chair. Michael has been busy as a touring
folksinger. He's a hardworking musician dedicated to his art, and Homestead is
an album that also emphasizes his devotion to home and family....
Music review
bluegrassworks.com
WOODSONGS ll Book and HOMESTEAD CD
"History is just one damned thing after another... (Winston Churchill).
"I think that we'll agree, the past is over... (George W. Bush).
Those are the whimsical epigrams on the title page, right before the table of
contents for this second book by folksinger/treehugger/TV-and-radio-show host,
Michael Johnathon.
So what do you get here? A laidback Introduction, followed by a farmhouse
breakfast recipe ...mmmm... followed by the music and lyrics. There are quotes
from Teddy Roosevelt and Henry David Thoreau sprinkled in here too. And here's a
little essay, "The Bells of Cold November,... about the somber story of how the
death of John F Kennedy was announced to the world by Malcolm Kilduff at
Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas Texas. And that leads into the song "The
Bells of Cold November,... on the CD. And you start seeing what you're
getting. It's a very cool book. It's an amazing display of energy, which I can't
recall seeing matched anywhere else in the folkie world....
Review copyright 2004 by John McLaughlin
"What an interesting and unusual CD this is!
Firstly, in a world of singer-songwriters who can't wait to add drums and
keyboards to their recordings, here's this guy adding banjo ... and mandolin ...
and dulcimer. Secondly, as a talented writer, he is sufficiently self-confident
to let his songs stand up beside several well-known traditional pieces, and,
wonder of wonders, covers of some modern folk classics by other writers. His
songs are firmly rooted in the tradition he so obviously loves. His willingness
to include familiar material in his repertoire would, I think, make his live
shows more accessible than those of several singer-songwriters I've seen lately,
who perform their own material to the exclusion of all else.
I'd like to see him in concert. "
Steve Dulson
music reviewer/critic
Michael Johnathon and the Folkboy Orchestra-Live! - "Michael has established
himself as a hardworking folk musician, singer and songwriter. His eighth album
was recorded live. The music is well-arranged, with quite a few slower,
contemplative numbers and subdued vocal harmonies. The faster-paced songs and
flashier instrumental breaks elicit the greatest response from the audience.
Johnathon's music is relaxed and at times meditative. Favorite cuts of mine
include "Winter's Eve," "New Wood," and "Winter Has Me in its Grip." His live
performances clearly emphasize his songs' lyrical messages. With his energy,
passion and deep lyrics, Johnathon follows a muse similar to Bob Dylan's. I
particularly enjoy his simpler songs of love and home....
Joe Ross
Bluegrass Now Magazine