Antony and the Johnsons – Antony and the Johnsons (2000)

Antony and the Johnsons is one of the most unique sounding band of this millennium. Their songs are beautifully grandiloquent and melancholic and Antony Hegarty's (nowadays Anohni) vocals are like from another world. I was introduced to the band when the second album I am a Bird Now was released in 2005. I was incredibly impressed by the sound world of the band and later on I also found this debut album and found out that it was just as great as I am a Bird Now. Anohni has an amazing gift of singing so that you can feel every single note coming out of her mouth. The trembling yet extremely controlled voice has range from quiet and delicate to a strong, almost operaesque expression. The songs are filled with amazing string arrangements and piano that is played with amazing professionalism.



This is an amazingly impressive debut album. I can't believe that I had never heard about this album before 2005 when the second album came out. How had this album not reached wider audiences. The first EPs were even collaborated with Lou Reed. Antony and the Johnsons is an important band in spreading the word on transgender people and their rights. Many of the lyrics relate to themes around Anohni's feelings towards her being a transgender person.

There are also many themes on the album relating to the evil of man. Most notably the songs Hitler in My Heart and Atrocities. I'm not familiar enough on the meaning of these songs, but I would think that these themes might have something to do with how transgender people are treated in a society. There are huge problems in these areas still now today, but in the year 2000 when this album came out, the world was still a different place and this album must have been a groundbreaking event  back then.

Anyone who knows me and my musical taste, knows that I really like sad melodies and melancholia in music, and strange vocals. This band has all of that. The album starts beautifully with the song Twilight. The piano score along with the weeping strings is just amazing. Especially when the song grows in the end half, it sounds really amazing. I also really like the following song Cripple and the Starfish. This song has deep sorrow and hopelessness that almost makes me weep from sheer beauty. The vocals are insanely beautiful. River of Sorrow sounds a lot like a musical song. I could really see this being sung on a theatre stage. Deeper Than Love is one of my favourites from this album. It has everything that I adore about this band. The strong string arrangements, amazing vocals and theatrical piano parts and highs and lows.

I don't know if it's intentional or not, but I feel like the album starts off really hopeless and sorrowful, but towards the end there seems to be some happier tones and some hope there.

Antony and the Johnsons is a completely unique band that really brought to life something that I've never heard before. Not many bands or artists are capable of this and therefore I must really tip my hat to this artist.

Listen to the album on Spotify.