Stupid Soul

Description

Stupid Soul is either the 4th album by Elijah Johnston or his 7th, depending on who you ask, but it might be the first one you've heard. The logical continuation of a slow-burning career, Stupid Soul is neither a morose self-reflective record nor a frantic series of genre experiments, settling into a steady and comfortable rhythm: an album built to fit like a glove. Performed by a small team including Johnston's brother, his manager, and his longtime producer, the record is full of little wonders and live group energy, the sound of four very united collaborators searching for something timeless. Twelve-string acoustic guitars, vintage synthesizers, and an unwavering belief in the guitar solo complement Johnston's usual pop rock palette, and the team manages to create a coherent image from a mood board that takes as many cues from Brian Wilson as it does from The Legend of Zelda. But you don't need a program for that, and you don't need a reference sheet – you just need the songs. They will speak for themselves.