Johnny J. Blair's Journey To The Sun

Johnny J. Blair is a multi-talented singer, songwriter and producer whose wide-ranging sound encompasses a variety of musical genres, including pop, rock, soul and jazz. He’s released some excellent records, including I Like The Street, Door in The Water and Grateful. Blair’s latest project is a sci-fi themed album entitled We’re Getting Closer To The Sun. Fans of artists like King Crimson, The Moody Blues, ELO, and Pink Floyd and should really dig this phenomenal record. We’re Getting Closer To The Sun is something of a sci-fi concept album, with themes ranging from a more hopeful, non-dystopian vision of the future, to love, faith and questions of mortality.

Several tracks on the disc have a 1960s feel, including the title track and “A Place Across The Sky.” These terrific songs feature very cool guitar work and atmospheric production, recalling the aura of classic Jimmy Webb penned songs like Glen Campbell’s “Witchita Lineman.” The outstanding “Letting Go” and “Changing of the Guard” continue the 1960s aesthetic, and are spiritually influenced by the music of bands like The Moody Blues, The Bee Gees, and The Beatles, with a bit of glam rock and folk thrown into the mix. The album includes a fantastic cover of the David Bowie classic “Space Oddity,” on which Blair and his fellow musicians manage to deftly balance staying faithful to the original while absolutely giving the song some original touches as well.


Blair’s ethereal compositions also display some Laurel Canyon-esque touches, especially on the reflective “They Were There For You” and the powerful “I See The Angels Comin’ Round.” There’s a definite psychedelic vibe throughout the record, as evidenced by the presence of Mellotron and Stylophone. The remarkable tunes on We’re Getting Closer To The Sun feature sci-fi themed lyrics and concepts, and Blair has said that the album is influenced by a lot of classic science-fiction including the C.S. Lewis space trilogy, Alexander Key’s novel The Forgotten Door, and Nigel Kneale’s tales of Professor Quatermass. Like all of the best science-fiction stories, the music on this fabulous album is as much about love, faith and relationships as it is about spaceships, aliens and far out ideas.

We’re Getting Closer To The Sun is an extraordinary record. Concept albums are tough to pull off, and there are a quite a few rock and roll artists who’ve tried their hand at the genre throughout the years, including The Who, The Kinks, Genesis, Frank Zappa, Nine Inch Nails, and Green Day. Along with a group of talented musical collaborators which includes Prairie Prince, Mike Roe, and Chris Von Sneidern, “Singer At Large” Johnny J. Blair has managed to create a compelling album that will touch your heart, inspire your soul and have you reaching for the replay button to re-experience these amazing songs. You can check out We’re Getting Closer To The Sun at bandcamp by following this link: https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/album/new-album-were-getting-closer-to-the-sun.