Paul John – APPs (Single Review)

‘APPs‘ is the new single by Paul J​​ohn , an alternative music singer-songwriter. The song was released on Friday, the 29th of May. 

Paul Jones describes his style as following the ‘iconic troubadour tradition, crafting songs of meaning and honesty with an alternative and tongue-in-cheek undercurrent, to be performed around campfires in the wilderness, coffeehouses with a warm and inviting atmosphere, or even a concert hall erupting with welcome applause’.

The song starts slowly with a haunting, if not melancholic sound from what appears to be strings. Vocals and drumming emerge about fifteen seconds into the song, but both elements are very subtle, with the drumming even subtler, making it hard to track when it actually comes in. But the drumming becomes clearer, Paul Jo​hn also raising his voice – I’m tempted to say at the top of his lungs.

Vocally, Paul Jo​hn uses a higher register when he’s being expressive and a lower register when he’s trying to make a point. 

At one point, there is a melancholic lead guitar and drumming playing in the absence of vocals, the guitar sounding slightly crunchy. 

The guitar is impressive, and it speaks emotionally to the listener. The vocals are creative and dynamic, although at times they seem shouty. 

Vocal clarity is an area for improvement. Some parts are clear, whereas others are not. Perhaps the way to solve the issue is to cut some bass and crunchy elements. 

Storywise, we have a lyrical per​sona who satirizes the pervasiveness of cellphone apps, calling them little squares. Some give in to them, some don’t. The lyrical persona rhetorically asks how they used to manage without them in the past. It’s a cheeky track, one that’ll put a smile on your face. 

​SCORE/Excellent: Starting on a low note, it’s a strangely satisfying song. The instrumentation and vocals are dynamic. This is a song to play again and again, perhaps one that makes you stomp your feet on the floor. The singer`s almost goofy voice stays in your mind even after the song ends.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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