Johnnyswim Visit Love and Heartbreak on ‘Georgica Pond’

Alex Welch

Los Angeles duo Johnnyswim first gained acclaim with “Diamonds,” and have now returned with “Georgica Pond,” a follow-up of music that’s sometimes bold while also atmospheric and contemplative. It’s clear that the married couple, Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez, unlike their more famous predecessors of Civil Wars – have ambitious goals with “Georgica Pond.” The song “Hummingbird” serves as a nice introduction to the duo, even if the repetitiveness of the song itself isn’t an accurate indicator of the duo’s full creative abilities.

The album starts to steadily climb from there with “Summertime Romance,” one of the standout tracks. Sudano and Ramirez celebrate their love story in the lyrics. The album lives quite comfortably in the country/pop/folk crossover genre, but uses the duo’s own experiences and talent to elevate would could have been typical tracks into standouts.

The title song, “Georgica Pond,” lands about halfway through the album itself, and the slow building intensity of the song makes it a solid centerpiece for the record. Along with “Summertime Romance,” “Let it Matter” and “Say Goodnight Instead” it allows Sudano to showcase the full potential of her breathtaking vocal range, transitioning smoothly from quiet whispers to warm, loud cries.

The album’s biggest flaw is the arrangement of the songs themselves. Often times, the jump from one song to next doesn’t feel as smooth as it should. Also the album’s closing cover of Chris Isaak’s often-covered “Wicked Game” doesn’t quite pack as much of a punch as some of the other songs on the album.

Above all, “Georgica Pond” is an album that offers an optimistic and simple view on the complex subjects of love and loss, all while recognizing the hardships and challenges that the world has in store for even the most calm and honest among us.

Johnnyswim‘s “Georgica Pond” is available on Apple Music Oct. 14.