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We'll never forget that RV. The one in front of the venue with diapers drying on a line. The one that was carrying fourteen people—one of them still in diapers—mostly from Ireland--gigging across the States. Fast forward ten years, and the leader of that determined band/community, Ronan "Rojo" Johnston, carries on. He continues his distinguished career in commercial music, and his own children are old enough to illustrate his solo release, Songs of Consolation. 

Johnston puts food on the table through his musical skills producing, writing, and gigging for mainstream markets, to great notoriety—his resume includes fifteen number one songs in Ireland and writing and producing credits on thirty-three platinum albums. He is presently the musical director of Ireland's version of American Idol, so the man knows what it takes to make a hit, yet he turns his back on those techniques to deliver a debut solo project that long on authentic and short on commercialism. 

Unfortunately, being authentic means drawing inspiration from events that may not speak to anyone who is not in the same stage of life. He draws his main inspiration from the tragic sudden death of his mother, the successful launch of fatherhood thanks two preschool children and a devoted wife, and a great relationship with his Savior, who is leading him beside still waters—for now. It's a great life, despite the tragedies, but this is not the fodder of interesting rock 'n' roll. 

Johnston is in a musical marathon, however,  not a sprint. Young fathers and mothers will find great inspiration here for the everyday trials a young family brings. We look forward to continuing to follow the career of someone who is transparent and authentic before the world and his Heavenly Father. 

1997 Interview of Ronan Johnston: http://www.tollbooth.org/features/emmaus.html

Reviewed by Linda LaFianza and Shari Lloyd
 

Is Ronan Johnston the Irish Paul McCartney? Oh, I know his bank manager would suggest not, but apart from the millions of Euros, there are similarities. He has been a recognisable face on RTE televisions since a very young age being the straight man for puppet legends Zig and Zag, back in the day. Like McCartney, he still looks as young as he ever did, and he makes great pop albums. Well actually, remarkably, this is his debut album under his own name, but another similarity to Macca might be his 33 platinum discs and 15 number ones, though for Ronan, it was being the music behind the faces and names of others.

As I listen to Songs of Consolation, I am drawn back to McCartney, The Beatles and someone like Squeeze's Chris Tillbrook who was influenced by The Beatles. With echoes of Elton John and Crowded House, this is not an innovative pop music sound. No, this is the traditional pop song-writing done very well. Johnston has an ear for melody, hence all the platinum discs, and songs like "Deeper Down," "Call My Name" and "High" will linger in your humming all day long.

Personally I prefer those quieter moments--the acoustic slide of "The Day After" and the piano smoulder of "Take Heart." Even better is "Seven Old Ladies At The Church Last Night Saying Rosary." The mood, the lyrical scene setting, then the introspective interrogation that leads to profound insight into what is important in life and what is not. In one verse he's playing to a big crowd with the sadly demised Black Velvet Band, and then these seven ladies in Church are seemingly challenging the cool place to be and a tramp ends up closer to God than anyone. Brilliant! Elsewhere his mother's death is a recurring theme. Of these "Waves" ("Lying in You Arms") is moving and cathartic to anyone in a time of grief--a stunning ballad.

This is where the deal reaches a cut above the rest in the solid heart and soul below the radio-friendly veneer. Having fronted Gospel band Emmaus in the nineties, you might be asking where Jesus is in these songs. Well he is alive and well and doesn't need to be mentioned three times per minute to either endorse Himself or Ronan's faith. This is a pop album by a pop singer, and if you lean in and listen you will hear another voice, another dimension, another love. If I was trying to be critical I am not sure about "Overnight Mechanic," but it could be the lyrical Pharisee in me that doesn't feel the phrase is too cumbersome. It is a petty quibble. In a week that Paul McCartney released Memory Almost Full, this sits well alongside it. It is probably the best work Rojo has done to date, but will it sell like the ones he's done with puppets and Irish football teams and Ireland's Pop Idol winners! And like so often before we are back to the words justice and music in the same sentence: they would never rhyme!
 

Steve Stockman  6/18/2007

Steve Stockman is the Presbyterian Chaplain at Queens University, Belfast, Ireland, where he lives in community with 88 students. He has written two books Walk On; The Spiritual Journey of U2 which he is currently updating and The Rock Cries Out; Discovering Eternal Truth in Unlikely Music. He dabbles in poetry and songwriting and he has a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Ulster (listen anytime of day or night @  www.bbc.co.uk/ni/religion/rhythmandsoul). He has his own web page--Rhythms of Redemption at http://stocki.ni.org . He also tries to spend some time with his wife Janice and daughters Caitlin and Jasmine.